A total of 80 commercial tricycles and 50 motorcycles have been impounded by personnel of the Delta State Police Command for allegedly contravening the government’s existing order banning their operation in some parts of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the tricycle operators contravened the state government’s directives to stop working after 10pm.

The acting Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, said the operations were part of the command’s proactive and preventive measures to check the activities of criminals and cultists in the state.

According to him, the Divisional Police Officers for the ‘A’, ‘B’ and GRA divisions in Asaba carried out raids on black spots and criminal hideouts, including uncompleted buildings and brothels, where 64 suspects were arrested.

He stated that the suspects were consequently screened, while those found wanting had since been charged.

The police spokesman advised members of the public, particularly tricycles and motorcycle riders, to always obey government directives, noting that the command would not relent in ensuring that their tricycles and motorcycles were impounded to serve as a deterrent.

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In another development, on July 17, 2021, around 11pm and in compliance with the directives of the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Ali, the DPO, GRA Division, Asaba, while on patrol with his team behind the Nigerian Television Authority, came across a tricycle rider with two occupants, who on sighting the police, jumped down and escaped into the bush, while abandoning the tricycle.

When searched, items recovered from the tricycle with number plate  ASB 144 WZ, included one locally-made cut-to-size single-barrelled gun, one battle axe, one Tecno phone and 20 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, and other hard drugs.

Edafe said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Similarly, the DPO, Oghara Division, CSP Jimoh Hassan, detailed patrol team to embark on the Aberdeen system of patrol around Oghara and its environs to check the activities of criminals and to also prevent crimes in the area.

The team, while at Koko junction, intercepted 21-year-old Boytie Samuel of the Oghara junction, and the suspect was taken to the station for interrogation, where he confessed that he and others at large were motorcycle snatchers.

The suspect later led the police to Koko junction, where two unregistered motorcycles, one big Elema generator, a Nissan Primera with number plate BEN 564 LT, all suspected to have been stolen, were recovered and another suspect,  Vero Amughoro, 47, was also arrested.

A manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing, the PPRO stated.