ASABA, Nigeria — The Delta State Police Command has arraigned Prince Chizoba Ojokwu, the 63-year-old proprietor of a well-known local brothel, alongside 29 other suspects in the state capital. The legal proceedings follow a massive, intelligence-led crime prevention operation designed to neutralize criminal hideouts across the region.
The spokesperson for the command, ACP Bright Edafe, released an official statement on Wednesday detailing the charges. He disclosed that Ojokwu, the owner of the Prince Tarvan 50 brothel, was formally brought before the Asaba Magistrates’ Court. The hospitality operator faces criminal charges for allegedly permitting his commercial premises to be utilized as a brothel and for the systemic procurement of women and young girls for the purpose of prostitution.
According to police authorities, the brothel owner was swept up alongside a total of 202 suspects during a large-scale, coordinated raid executed on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The targeted enforcement swept through known criminal black spots, hospitality venues, and suspected illicit drug dens scattered throughout the Asaba metropolis and its immediate neighboring communities. The operation was conceptualized as part of the command's ongoing strategic initiative to curb urban crime and restore public order.
The specialized raid was directly overseen by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations. Command officials emphasized that the sweeping enforcement action relied heavily on credible, actionable data compiled by the State Intelligence Department.
Following a rigorous preliminary screening and investigation process, the police command released 172 of the detained individuals unconditionally after finding no direct evidence linking them to criminal activity. However, Ojokwu was retained and charged under Sections 223 and 224 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006. The remaining 29 suspects rounded up in the raid were arraigned separately on charges relating to unlawful possession of narcotics and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
Reaffirming the institution's stance on criminal justice, the Commissioner of Police for the Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, stated that every lawful arrest within the state would be met with a diligent investigation and swift prosecution whenever a prima facie case is established. He issued a stern warning to owners of hospitality businesses and illicit establishments, cautioning that the command will continue to sustain high-intensity, intelligence-driven operations to rid Delta State of criminal elements.
