Teenage suspected armed robber in Delta State involved in killing of six people

In a joint operation conducted by the Delta State Police Command and local vigilantes, a 14-year-old suspected armed robber named Gift Peace and two members of his gang were arrested in Warri.

Gift, who was captured at a Suya spot located at Enerhen junction in Warri South Local Government Area, had been a part of a gang that had been terrorizing the area for seven years.

The teenage suspect admitted to being involved in the killing of six individuals, including a vigilante at 1st Marine Gate, during armed robbery operations.

Gift’s fate took a turn when the leader of his gang, known as Goodluck, was apprehended at Marine Quarters in Warri by vigilante members. Goodluck, after his arrest, confessed to his crimes and led the police to the suya spot where Gift was found.

Confirming the arrest on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, revealed that two other male gang members, Idigbe Osreis (19) and Idigbe Perfect (16), were also arrested at their hideout.

The operation began when the DPO of ‘B’ Division Warri received a distress call about an armed robbery operation at Giwamu Junction in Warri.

A police undercover operative was present at the scene during the attack and identified one of the suspects. The operative then tracked the suspect to a Suya spot at Enerhen Junction.

Acting on the directive of the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass psc, the DPO of ‘B’ Warri, SP Bolarinwa Alabi, initiated an intelligence-led operation with his team and successfully apprehended Gift Peace, the 14-year-old boy, at the said Suya spot at Enerhen junction.

Gift confessed to being a member of an armed robbery gang that had been causing havoc in Warri and its surroundings, claiming to have been involved since he was seven (7) years old. He provided the names of other gang members and subsequently led the detectives to their hideout.

Upon spotting the police, the gang members opened fire from their unregistered operational tricycle. In response, the police engaged in a confrontation, resulting in one of the suspects, later identified as the gang’s leader, sustaining serious gunshot injuries.

Unfortunately, the others managed to escape. The injured suspect was taken to the hospital, where he was eventually confirmed dead by a doctor.

Items recovered from the gang included the gang’s operational tricycle, a locally-made cut-to-size single-barrel gun with expended cartridges, and three live cartridge.