By Fresh Facts Magazine Staff Writer –
The Delta State Police Command has stepped up its proactive fight against crime, recording two major breakthroughs in Asaba within the past week. Under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, the Command has emphasized intelligence-driven, preventive policing — and recent arrests highlight how this strategy is paying off.
A Suspicious Bag and a Deadly Discovery
In the early hours of August 16, 2025, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was conducting a routine stop-and-search operation along DBS Road, Asaba. At about 5:11 a.m., officers flagged down a man carrying a cross bag. His name: Bassey Udoh, 39, of Custom Market, Asaba.
According to police accounts, Udoh appeared nervous as the officers approached, prompting a quick search. What they found stunned them: an English Beretta pistol neatly concealed in the bag.
Investigators later discovered that Udoh was allegedly part of a robbery syndicate that specializes in breaking into homes and carting away valuables. He confessed to purchasing the pistol for just ₦30,000 — a chilling reminder of how easily dangerous weapons can find their way into criminal hands. Udoh is now in custody, with police intensifying efforts to track down his accomplices.
For residents of the area, the arrest came as a relief. “We don’t sleep well at night anymore because of house break-ins,” said Mr. Augustine Ijeoma, a shop owner along DBS Road. “The police being more visible and stopping people is what we need. It gives us hope that criminals can be caught before they strike.”
The Ex-Convict Who Couldn’t Stay Clean
Barely five days after his release from prison, Precious Okoro, 27, found himself back in police custody — this time for allegedly stealing another motorcycle.
On August 11, 2025, officers of the Eagle-Net Special Squad, while on visibility patrol in Asaba, received a distress call about a missing motorcycle. Working swiftly with members of the Nigeria Hunters Security Services (NHSS), they traced the theft and arrested Okoro alongside an 18-year-old accomplice, Buhari Deyegu of Ibusa Road, Asaba.
Investigations revealed that Okoro had just been released from the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Facility on August 6 after serving a two-year sentence for the exact same offence — motorcycle theft. Yet, within days of regaining freedom, he allegedly returned to crime.
A follow-up search of his residence yielded even more: a Tiger generator, a large Fireman generator, and an iron measuring scale, all suspected to be stolen property. Both Okoro and Deyegu are now facing fresh charges.
One commercial motorcyclist, who identified himself as Chike, expressed frustration at the repeat offence: “It is heartbreaking that someone who was just released went back to the same crime. People like us work hard for our bikes. If police didn’t act fast, another rider would have lost his only source of livelihood.”
A Shift Towards Proactive Policing
Police spokesperson SP Edafe Bright noted that these arrests underscore the effectiveness of CP Abaniwonda’s push for intelligence-led, preventive policing rather than reactive response. Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and unit heads across Delta State have been instructed to replicate the model in their jurisdictions to ensure that communities are better secured.
Security analysts also argue that community involvement is proving crucial. The role of the Nigeria Hunters Security Services in the motorcycle theft case shows how partnerships between security agencies and local vigilante groups can produce quick results.
Restoring Public Confidence
Residents say the visible presence of patrol teams, coupled with swift responses to distress calls, is slowly restoring public trust in law enforcement. “Before, we only heard about arrests after crimes had already happened,” said Mrs. Nkem Adigwe, a resident of ULO Street. “Now, it feels like the police are preventing crimes before they even happen. That makes a big difference.”
While the battle against crime in Delta remains an uphill task, these recent arrests reflect a policing style that places emphasis on vigilance, quick response, and community partnership.
For residents of Asaba and beyond, it is also a reminder that criminals are never far from the spotlight of the law — and that proactive policing is gradually closing in on them.
