Juliana Francis
The Delta State Police Command has arrested suspected kidnappers and rescued a kidnapped victim, said the State’s Police spokesman, Superintendent of Police Mr Bright Edafe.
The operation, which led to the arrest and rescue of the victim happened after the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, deployed a special squad of Police operatives led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Julius Robinson.
Edafe said: “This squad, currently stationed in Ughelli, through a high-density operation, has so far successfully arrested six suspected kidnappers, recovered one Pump action gun, three Barretta pistols, one revolver pistol, one locally made cut-to-size gun, and they have also rescued three kidnapped victims so far.”
He explained that on the 17th of April at about 11:30 pm while working on the credible intelligence received about a syndicate of armed robbers terrorizing Ughelli and its environs, Robinson led his team, in a sting operation, stormed Sapele Town and arrested the leader of one of the suspected syndicates known as Ibrahim Usman – a 35 years old male.
“At about 5:30 am of the 18th of April 2024, the suspect led the operatives to the Itsekiri Road area of Sapele Town, where two of his gang members; Joseph Aondohbmba, 22 years and Collins Ovo alias Gbegbes, 23, were arrested. The gang leader Ibrahim Usman took the team to his residence at Itsekiri Road, before Macpherson Area of Sapele where a Barretta Pistol hidden under his mattress was recovered. The investigation is ongoing,” said Edafe.
Edafe also stated that on the 24th of April, the team led by Robinson again stormed Ogorode area of Sapele Town, at about 7: 30am and arrested one Daniel Okete, 32.
Edafe said: “Upon search, a Barretta Pistol was recovered in his residence which he confessed that he bought from one Goodluck Sokutu also in custody. He confessed to being the third in command of Eiye Confraternity in Sapele Town. Also, on the 25th of April at about 10:am, while acting on the confessions from a gun runner already in custody viz Goodluck Sakuta operatives recovered a Barretta Pistol at an uncompleted building in the Amukpe area of Sapele where it was hidden. The investigation is ongoing.”
Edafe said that sequel to a case of kidnapping reported at the ‘A’ Division, Ughellli by the husband of a kidnapped victim, who was abducted along Isoko Road Ughellli by unknown hoodlums demanding, N2.5m as ransom for the victim’s release.
The Divisional Police Officer, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Sadiq immediately detailed Robinson to lead his team of operatives on special assignment.
On the 22nd of April, at about 2:30 pm, combined teams of police operatives and members of the vigilantes, while armed with technically generated intelligence stormed Eruemukohwarian Community in Ughellli North LGA of Delta State suspected to be the hoodlums’ hideout.
On sighting the teams, the hoodlums took to their heels, abandoning the victim who was rescued unhurt.
Two of the suspects, Edadfe Akporere, 27, and Igho Midiraya, 34, were arrested after a hot chase by the police operatives.
The suspects have been identified by the victim. Efforts have been intensified to arrest other fleeing gangs.
CP Olufemi commended the officers and team members for their relentless efforts in the fight against crime within the Ughelli-Sapele region.
He further assured the public that these achievements, will, without doubt, send a clear message to perpetrators of crimes that they will be caught, and mercilessly prosecuted with no fear or favour as provided by the laws.
