Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has directed a full-scale crackdown on criminal networks following the interception of a large cache of arms and illegal items by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Asaba, Delta State.
Speaking after receiving a detailed security briefing from the DSS at Government House, Asaba, the Governor hailed the operation as a “major breakthrough in the state’s ongoing battle against insecurity.”
He praised the agency for its intelligence-driven approach and reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance toward any form of armed threat or destabilization.
“The recovery of these weapons is a clear warning to those who threaten our peace,” Oborevwori said. “Delta State will not be a safe haven for arms traffickers, criminals, or their collaborators. My administration remains resolute in working with security agencies to ensure every part of Delta remains peaceful and secure.”
The Governor disclosed that two suspects were arrested during the operation, with weapons and fake pharmaceuticals concealed in sacks of beans. He described the smuggling of such lethal items as a “direct assault on the state’s peace and development efforts.”
Earlier, Mr. Anthony Ifemeje, Deputy Director of Operations, DSS Delta Command, briefed the Governor on the operation’s success. He identified one of the suspects as Stephen Sabo Atoshi, a 40-year-old teacher from Taraba State, who allegedly engaged in arms trafficking for over eight years.
According to Ifemeje, Atoshi reportedly smuggled weapons from Libya through Chad and entered Nigeria via an illegal border in Yobe State.
Items recovered included seven General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), several assault rifles, pump-action guns, five grenades, and 497 cartons of counterfeit drugs. Additional items were seized from separate DSS operations across Delta State.
Governor Oborevwori applauded the DSS, the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies for their synergy and vigilance. He vowed that the state government would continue to provide the necessary support and logistics to strengthen intelligence gathering and border control.
He reiterated that the MORE Agenda of his administration—focusing on peace, security, and inclusive development—remains anchored on the firm belief that “there can be no development without safety and justice.”
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