Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the trafficking of illegal arms into the state, following the arrest of a high-profile arms dealer by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
During a press briefing in Asaba, the governor commended the DSS Delta State Command for its successful sting operation that led to the recovery of seven long-range General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) reportedly ferried from Libya into Delta State.
According to the DSS, the operation was carried out by its tactical team as part of ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) fueling crime, communal conflicts, and insecurity in the region.
The suspect, identified as Stephen Sabo Atoshi, a 40-year-old secondary school teacher from Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, was arrested during the covert operation.
Governor Oborevwori, visibly angered by the development, warned that his administration would not tolerate any activity that threatens the peace and security of Delta residents. He vowed to strengthen collaboration between state security agencies to dismantle criminal networks operating within and beyond the state.
A video of the joint press briefing between Governor Oborevwori and the DSS Command has since surfaced, showing the recovered weapons and the suspect in custody.
Authorities say further investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the arms and identify other accomplices involved in the smuggling network.
