ASABA: The Delta State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a gun-running syndicate linked to the unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and the fatal shooting of Oghenemine Ogidi in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
Ogidi was reportedly shot dead by police personnel at a motor park in Effurun, an incident that later triggered investigations into the source and movement of the firearm involved.
The Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, disclosed the arrests while briefing journalists at the State Police Headquarters in Asaba, noting that the operation followed coordinated intelligence-driven investigations across Bayelsa and Imo States.
The suspects were identified as Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, Clifford Boleyelefa, Amadi Princewill, and Amadi Felix Chibuike. They were allegedly linked to a wider gun-running network responsible for the circulation of the firearm used in the incident.
According to the police commissioner, investigations revealed that the breakthrough followed extensive tracking of the Beretta pistol’s movement from its point of purchase to its eventual use in Effurun.
He stated that on May 4, 2026, operatives arrested Emmanuel Chukwuemeka in Bayelsa State, alongside his roommate, whose mobile phone was allegedly used in facilitating communication during the purchase of the firearm.
During interrogation, Chukwuemeka allegedly confessed to purchasing the pistol from Amadi Princewill for ₦290,000 before reselling it to another suspect identified simply as Desmond, who is currently at large, for ₦380,000.
Police further disclosed that Desmond allegedly arranged for the firearm to be transported to Effurun and contacted the late Oghenemine Ogidi to receive and deliver it to Sapele.
Acting on intelligence from the initial arrest, detectives tracked and arrested Amadi Princewill in Imo State on May 15, 2026. His interrogation reportedly led to the arrest of Amadi Felix Chibuike in Owerri on May 16, 2026.
The Commissioner of Police added that Princewill confessed to buying the firearm from Amadi Felix for ₦200,000, revealing further layers of the alleged syndicate.
Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the suspects to the Black Axe confraternity, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the network and the fleeing suspect identified as Desmond.
The police command assured that all suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, as operations continue to track other individuals connected to the illegal arms supply chain.
Meanwhile, speaking to journalists, one of the suspects, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, a graduate of Agricultural Sciences from Niger Delta University, admitted to purchasing the firearm, while another suspect, Amadi Princewill, claimed it was later sold to Desmond, who allegedly said he needed it for security purposes.
The command reiterated its commitment to tackling illegal arms trafficking and ensuring that all individuals involved in the case are brought to justice.
In a related development, the Lagos State Police Command has also ordered heightened security measures following reports of a suspected threat notice allegedly targeting a school, assuring residents that no verified intelligence indicates any imminent attack.
