Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected kidnappers, recovered an AK-47 rifle, two vehicles, and a network jammer in separate operations across the state.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed the development in a statement, Monday, adding that the arrests were made between September 8 and September 12, following intelligence-led operations.
According to the statement, on September 12, a team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ekpan Division, CSP Labe Joseph, arrested two suspects, identified as Elvis Ebroghro, 36, and Abiola Adegore, 34, both residents of Ometan.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo was sighted on September 11 attempting to steal a vehicle battery by a community security guard, Abdullahi Mohammed. When confronted, they allegedly threatened to kill him if he reported the incident.
Based on a confession obtained from one of the suspects, operatives arrested another member of the syndicate, Lucky Ebroghro, and recovered an AK-47 rifle concealed inside an isolated building in the Ometan community.
In another operation on September 8, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Squad, led by CSP Godwin Osadolor, rescued a young man who had been abducted from his residence in Ogwashi-Uku.
Police said the victim, whose name was withheld, had been kidnapped and shot in the leg after paying a ransom of ₦2 million. He was rescued in the Ogwashi-Uku bush and taken for medical treatment.
Two suspects, Chukwuebuka Nka, 25, and Uche Okechukwu, were later arrested at Owerri Road in Ndemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The victim’s white Toyota Venza SUV was recovered from them.
Further investigation led to the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect, Somto Chukwuma, at Agidiase village, Ogwashi-Uku. The police also recovered the gang’s operational vehicle, a Toyota Matrix with registration number RRT-331-AE, as well as a network jammer circuit device from their hideout.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the officers for their professionalism, assuring residents that the command would continue to clamp down on criminal elements in the state.
He reiterated the police’s commitment to restoring peace and security across communities in Delta State.