Nigeria Police Force operatives have arrested four suspected gun runners in Imo and Delta States as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting illegal firearms trafficking. The arrests, made in May 2026, follow the recovery of a Beretta pistol at a park in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State on May 1, 2026. Commissioner of Police for Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, revealed the details during a press briefing on Monday, highlighting the successful outcome of a thorough investigation.
The suspects identified are Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, Clifford Boleyelefa, Amadi Princewill, and Amadi Felix Chibuike. They were apprehended in Bayelsa and Imo States after a painstaking investigation by police operatives. The first suspect, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, was arrested in Bayelsa on May 4, 2026, alongside his roommate, whose phone he used to communicate during the illegal gun purchase. During interrogation, Chukwuemeka confessed to buying the Beretta pistol from Amadi Princewill for N290,000 and reselling it to an individual named Desmond for N380,000.
Desmond, who remains at large, allegedly arranged for the gun to be way-billed to Effurun and coordinated with Oghenemine Ogidi, who is now deceased, to collect and deliver it to Sapele. Based on Chukwuemeka’s confession, police trailed and arrested Amadi Princewill in Imo State on May 15, 2026. Upon questioning, Princewill admitted he purchased the firearm from Amadi Felix for N200,000. Police then tracked and apprehended Amadi Felix in Owerri, Imo State, on May 16, 2026.
All four suspects are members of the Black Axe confraternity, a notorious campus-based group linked to various criminal activities across Nigeria. The police have stated that the suspects will be charged to court once the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, efforts to locate Desmond and other individuals involved in the trafficking network are ongoing. The operation underscores the police’s commitment to curbing gun violence and illegal arms circulation in the region.
This arrest is part of broader security initiatives aimed at dismantling criminal syndicates involved in arms smuggling and related offenses. The successful prosecution of these suspects could serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar activities. The police continue to urge the public to report any suspicious activities that may lead to the apprehension of other suspects.
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