The Department of State Services, (DSS) Delta State Command, on Sunday burst a notorious arms dealing syndicate, arresting two men and recovering a cache of sophisticated weapons comprising seven GPMGs, several AK-47 rifles, five hand grenades, and other military-grade weapons.
The DSS said some of the arms were concealed in bags of beans transported from the North to the Oko Food Market along the Asaba–Onitsha Expressway.
Newsmata.com.ng reports the intelligence agency disclosed this while briefing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the development when he visited its Asaba headquarters on Monday where the governor read the riot act to criminals and arms smugglers operating in the state.
The governor also gave security agencies a marching order to fish out the killers of Jerry Aduara, a youth leader in Warri and their sponsors.
In his briefing, the DSS Deputy Director of Operations, Mr. Anthony Ifemeje, narrated the intelligence-led operation that led to the arrests on Sunday October 12, 2025, within the Asaba metropolis.
Ifemeje named the arrested arms dealers as Stephen Sabo Atoshi, who is the prime suspect, and a 40-year-old secondary school teacher from Taraba State.
He revealed that the suspects were part of a network trafficking small arms and light weapons from Sebha in southern Libya, through Chad into Nigeria via an illegal border in Gidam, Yobe State.
According to the DSS operative, “During interrogation, the prime suspect confessed to garnering eight years in the illegal trade and to having supplied over 55 weapons, including General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and AK-47 rifles, across the country”.
apparat from the recovered weapons, the DSS also seized 497 cartons of fake drugs intended for distribution within the state.
Ifemeje assured the government of the command’s continuous vigilance and determination to cut off arms supply routes and dismantle criminal networks operating in Delta State.
Responding, a visibly impressed Governor Oborevwori commended the agency for what he described as a major breakthrough in the state’s sustained fight against insecurity and ordered a comprehensive crackdown on criminal networks in the state
Oborevwori said, “I am very delighted to be here today. I had to leave another important engagement to be here because the breakthrough recorded by our security agencies is highly commendable and significant to the peace and safety of our state”.
He praised the DSS and other security agencies for their “strategic intelligence, coordination, and determination,” which led to the recovery of the arms, adding that the success reflected Delta State’s strong commitment to peace and public safety.
The governor warned that his administration would not tolerate any form of insecurity or lawlessness, particularly in Warri and its environs.
He cautioned that “Those who are planning to cause crisis should have a rethink; we want peace, not trouble. We are working tirelessly to open up Warri for investors and economic growth, but where there is violence, investors will stay away”.
Governor Oborevwori also warned that anyone involved in killings, violence, or arms smuggling would be tracked down and prosecuted, stressing that Delta remained a peaceful and investor-friendly state and vowed to resist any attempt to destabilise it.
“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 stated, urging residents to cooperate with security agencies to keep the state safe.
On the killing of Jerry Aduara, an indigene of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, who was a two-time chairman of the Odion Urhobo Youth Council and member of the Warri South Local Government Peace Committee, the governor said; “I have directed security agencies to arrest the person who shot and killed somebody in Warri. They should look for that person and bring him to book, including those backing him. Nobody involved will go scot-free because this is Delta State, and we want peace,” Oborevwori asserted.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and ensuring that no individual or group “takes law into their own hands”, emphasising Delta’s focus on unity, development, and security.