Police Bust Phone Theft Syndicate, Recover Nine Android Devices in Asaba

Police Bust Phone Theft Syndicate, Recover Nine Android Devices in Asaba

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected members of a phone theft syndicate and recovered nine brand-new Android devices in Asaba, the state capital. The suspects were apprehended on July 25, 2026, at their hideout along St. Brigid’s Road, Asaba, following a series of reported phone thefts from shops in the city and its environs. The police acted on credible intelligence and technical analysis to track down the syndicate.

The police identified the arrested suspects as Johna Omarocha, Kelvin Onogho, Nkechi Nnaji, and Ufuoma Joshua. A search of their hideout led to the recovery of nine brand-new Android phones, all still sealed in their original cartons. According to the police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects employed a coordinated method to evade detection. The syndicate members would disguise themselves as genuine customers visiting shops and supermarkets. While pretending to shop, they used newspapers to conceal mobile phones displayed in the stores before secretly walking away with them.

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Investigators further disclosed that the female suspect, Nkechi Nnaji, allegedly played a strategic role in the operation. She reportedly waybilled the stolen phones to Lagos, where the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of the devices were altered before the phones were resold—making it difficult to trace them to their rightful owners. The suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the criminal enterprise. The police stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and identify the legitimate owners of the recovered phones. The four suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling robbery and other property-related crimes across the state. He urged members of the public, particularly shop owners and business operators, to remain vigilant, strengthen security measures around their business premises, and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the police.