By A High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has remanded four suspected members of a gun-running syndicate identified as Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, Clifford Boleyelefa, Amadi Princewill, and Amadi Felix Chibuike over their alleged connection to a Beretta pistol recovered from the late Oghenemine Ogidi at a transport park in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, on April 26, 2026.
AfrikTimes had earlier reported that Ogidi was shot dead by a police officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, at a park in Effurun after officers allegedly recovered a Beretta pistol from him.
The Delta State Police Command had on June 8 announced the arrest of the four suspects in separate intelligence-led operations carried out in Imo and Bayelsa states between May 4 and May 16, 2026.
According to the police, investigations revealed that Amadi Felix allegedly sold the Beretta pistol to Amadi Princewill in Imo State for ₦200,000. Princewill was said to have resold the weapon to Emmanuel Chukwuemeka in Bayelsa State for ₦290,000, while Chukwuemeka later sold it to a suspect identified as Desmond, who remains at large, for ₦380,000.
Desmond was reportedly said to have waybilled the firearm to Effurun and contacted Ogidi to receive it and forward it to Sapele.
The police alleged that all four suspects are members of the proscribed Black Axe Confraternity
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 11, by the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State, ASP Bright Edafe, the Command said investigations linked the suspects to the illegal procurement, distribution, and movement of firearms across state lines..
“Upon the conclusion of investigations, the Delta State Police Command charged the suspects before the court on a five-count charge,” the statement said.
According to the Command, the charges include unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a fabricated Beretta pistol, unlawful possession of four rounds of live 9mm ammunition, conspiracy to belong to an unlawful society, and membership of the proscribed Black Axe Confraternity.
The police added that suspects have been remanded in prison custody.
“Following their arraignment, the court ordered that all four defendants be remanded in prison custody pending further proceedings in the matter,” the statement added.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling the proliferation of illegal firearms, cultism, and other violent crimes across the state.
“He assured residents that the Command will continue to pursue and prosecute criminal elements while sustaining efforts to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects connected to the case who remain at large,” he added.
In a related development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on April 29, 2026, approved the dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers found culpable in the alleged extra-judicial killing of Oghenemine Ogidi.
The Force said the dismissed officers would be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution over their roles in the incident.
