Delta police arrest kidnappers, recover AK-47 rifles, N4.5m ransom in major crackdown
…command charges 455 cases to court The Delta State Police Command has said it has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities across the state, leading to the arrest of suspected
...command charges 455 cases to court
The Delta State Police Command has said it has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities across the state, leading to the arrest of suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, human traffickers and drug dealers, alongside the recovery of firearms, illicit drugs and ransom money.
Commissioner of Police Yemi Oyeniyi disclosed this on Tuesday during the command’s first quarter press briefing in Asaba, where he presented the scorecard of the command from February to date.
He said the command had continued to make Delta State “hot for criminals” through proactive and intelligence-driven policing, recording major successes in the fight against violent crimes and criminality.
According to him, on April 24, operatives of the tactical team in Ughelli arrested two suspected kidnappers, Ahmadu Usman, 22, and Haruna Abdullahi, 37, linked to a kidnapping syndicate terrorising commuters along the Ughelli–Warri Road.
He said one AK-47 rifle loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was recovered from the suspects, while investigations are ongoing.
In another operation on April 9, Oyeniyi said operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, working with the military, rescued two female kidnap victims from a hideout along the Ubulu-Uku power line axis sequel to a kidnapping incident in Ibusa and Enu-Ani Mega City, Ogwashi-Uku.
“The suspects engaged the operatives in a gun duel, during which three members of the syndicate were fatally wounded. One AK-47 rifle, 19 rounds of ammunition, and N4.5 million suspected to be part of ransom collected from victims were recovered,” Oyeniyi said.
He added that the ransom money had been handed over to the victims, while another three kidnapped victims were rescued in Issele-Uku after a joint operation involving the police, military, vigilantes and hunters.
The commissioner also disclosed that one suspected kidnapper was neutralised during the Issele-Uku gun battle, while an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the scene.
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On armed robbery, Oyeniyi said two suspects, Yushua Buhari, 19, and Garba Muazu, 25, were arrested in Imo State over a series of burglary and robbery attacks in Okpanam, Asaba and surrounding areas.
He said the suspects were intercepted during stop-and-search operations with 17 sophisticated mobile phones and laptops believed to have been stolen from victims in Delta State.
The police boss also revealed the arrest of two suspected human and organ traffickers following the complaint of a 19-year-old victim from Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government Area.
According to him, investigations showed that the victim was trafficked to the Ivory Coast for prostitution and later discovered her womb had been removed without her consent after she was injected with an unknown substance and hospitalised abroad.
The suspects, identified as Blessing Mongo, 47, and Esther Meeting, 32, are currently in custody, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
On prosecution, Oyeniyi said the command had charged 455 cases to court from January to date, successfully prosecuted 205 cases, while 250 cases are still undergoing trial.
He urged residents to continue supporting the police with credible information to improve security across the state.
