ASABA: The Department of State Services (DSS) in Delta State has intercepted a large cache of sophisticated weapons in Asaba, marking one of the most significant security breakthroughs in recent years.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has responded swiftly, ordering a comprehensive crackdown on criminal networks across the state, warning that his administration will not tolerate any form of lawlessness or threats to peace.
Speaking during a visit to the DSS Command Headquarters in Asaba on Monday, where he was briefed by Mr. Anthony Ifemeje, Deputy Director of Operations, the governor commended the security agencies for their coordination, intelligence, and resilience in achieving the success.
I am very delighted to be here today. I had to leave another important engagement because this breakthrough is highly commendable and significant to the peace and safety of our state, Oborevwori stated.
The governor emphasized that the operation reflects Delta’s firm commitment to maintaining peace and public safety, urging residents to support security agencies in their efforts.
He warned individuals or groups attempting to destabilize the state, especially around Warri and its environs, to desist immediately or face the full wrath of the law.
Those who are planning to cause crisis should have a rethink. We want peace, not trouble. We are opening up Warri for investment and economic growth, and violence will only drive investors away, he cautioned.
Oborevwori vowed that anyone involved in the illegal importation or distribution of weapons, or linked to violent crimes, would be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted without exception.
Bringing in heavy arms and ammunition of this nature is unacceptable and a direct threat to our collective peace. We will not allow it under any circumstance, he said.
The governor also condemned the recent killing of Jerry Aduara, a respected indigene of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom and former Chairman of the Odion Urhobo Youth Council, directing law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
I have instructed security agencies to arrest the person who shot and killed somebody in Warri. No one involved will go scot-free because this is Delta State, and we want peace, Oborevwori warned.
He reaffirmed that the MORE Agenda of his administration prioritizes peace, security, and good governance, stressing that no individual or group will be allowed to take the law into their hands.
During the briefing, DSS Deputy Director Ifemeje revealed that the intelligence-led operation took place on October 12, 2025, within the Asaba metropolis, leading to the arrest of a notorious arms dealer, Stephen Sabo Atoshi, and his accomplice a 40-year-old secondary school teacher from Taraba State.
According to the DSS, Atoshi confessed to being in the illegal arms trade for eight years, during which he supplied over 55 weapons, including General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and AK-47 rifles, across Nigeria.
Investigations revealed that the suspects were part of an international smuggling network transporting small arms and light weapons from Sebha in southern Libya, through Chad, into Nigeria via an illegal border route in Gidam, Yobe State.
Recovered items from the operation included:
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Seven GPMGs
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Several AK-47 rifles
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Five hand grenades
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497 cartons of fake drugs
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Military-grade weapons hidden in sacks of beans transported from the North to the Oko Food Market along the Asaba–Onitsha Expressway
Ifemeje assured that the DSS remains committed to dismantling arms supply chains, disrupting criminal syndicates, and ensuring Delta continues to be one of the most secure states in the Niger Delta region.
