Delta Police Wade In APC, NDC Cl∆sh During Rally, Rescue Man From Mob, Recover AK-47 R!fle

Delta Police Wade In APC, NDC Clash During Rally, Rescue Man From Mob, Recover AK-47 Rifle

The police said he was taken to a hospital after officers rescued him from the mob.

The Delta State Police Command has rescued a man identified as Collins Egbara from a mob during a political rally in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state and recovered an AK-47 rifle from an old building near where he was found.

The command said Egbara was rescued at about 11:30am on September 18, 2026, after police patrol teams on “Operation Show of Force” found a group of youths beating him near an old building in Orumarho community, Effurun.

The police said he was taken to a hospital after officers rescued him from the mob.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the command had deployed officers to the proposed venue of the political rally after receiving intelligence about a possible clash between supporters of the APC and NDC.

The police said the command received intelligence on September 15 about the planned rally and the likelihood of violence between supporters of the two parties. It added that efforts to contact the organisers were unsuccessful until September 17, when written notifications from both APC and NDC supporters were received less than 10 hours before the planned rally.

The command said both groups were advised not to use Angle Park in Warri as their point of convergence for the rally, after which they left the area separately.

However, police said tension increased during the political activities on September 18, prompting the deployment of additional patrol teams to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The command said its patrol team later noticed a group of youths mobbing Egbara near the old building in Orumarho community. Police officers intervened and rescued him after he had allegedly been beaten severely.

The police said a search of the premises where Egbara was found led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle. However, the command said it had not established whether Egbara belonged to either of the political parties because he had not been able to give a statement since he was rescued.

The development came after the NDC campaign council alleged that Egbara had been seen carrying an AK-47 during a political procession in the area and was subsequently handed over to the police. The council also alleged that five participants were injured during confrontations at different locations in Warri and Uvwie and called for a full investigation.

The police account, however, said officers rescued Egbara from a mob and later recovered the rifle during a search of the nearby building. The command did not confirm his political affiliation or establish that he was carrying the weapon when he was found.

Egbara is currently receiving medical treatment and remains under protective custody, according to the police. The command said officers will take his statement when he is stable and that he will be charged to court if investigations establish that he is connected to the recovered firearm.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Etaifo Erale, said the command would not compromise the investigation and urged members of the public and the media to verify information through appropriate channels before publication.

The commissioner also urged political parties and campaign organisers to notify the police ahead of rallies to allow adequate security arrangements and prevent clashes.

The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the mob attack on Egbara, the ownership and source of the recovered AK-47 rifle, and whether the man has any connection with the firearm or the political activities in the area.