Warri: Delta Police have captured two infamous robbery suspects linked to a string of high-profile heists across the state—including a daring N15 million solar shop raid—recovering stolen goods and sending a clear warning to criminal gangs.
SP Bright Edafe, the command’s Spokesman, disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Warri, on Saturday.
Edafe said the suspects were apprehended by police operatives attached to the Orerokpe Division on Wednesday.
He said the suspects were identified by their victim in Osubi Community before their arrest. The gang was responsible for a series of robberies within Okpe, Uvwie and environs.
Edafe said the detention followed an investigation. The case involved a reported armed robbery in the Okuokoko Community. Operatives of Orerokpe Division handled the investigation. Four armed men in a Toyota Sienna invaded a solar shop.
The suspects held a sales representative at gunpoint. They tied her with a rope and took solar batteries, inverters, phones, and other equipment. The items stolen were valued at about N15 million.
The breakthrough came on Wednesday. The sales representative identified two of the suspects in Osubi.
Upon receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Orerokpe Division, immediately mobilised operatives to the scene, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed and identified two more gang members who are currently at large.
He said the suspects were allegedly responsible for several church robberies in Warri and Osubi. Musical and solar equipment worth about N80 million were stolen.
The police spokesman said that the suspects also disclosed the recipients of the stolen items in Warri.
Further investigations led police to recover the Toyota Sienna used for the operations.
He further explained that the police conducted searches of the suspects’ residences and shops pursuant to the search warrant they obtained.
“The search resulted in the recovery of solar batteries, inverters, charge controllers, solar panels, televisions, electrical wires, cameras, church musical equipment, and other suspected stolen property,” Edafe said.
