The operatives of the Delta State Police Command said that by apprehending 13 alleged kidnappers rescuing 9 victims held captive by kidnappers, arrest of 72 cultists and 7 armed robbers in the state, they had made great progress in the fight against crime.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Wale Abass, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Asaba, Delta State capital, also disclosed that 54 firearms, 286 ammunition, and 196 cartridges were recovered from criminals.
The CP said these achievements were made between the Months of July 2023 to date. He said “On June 23, 2023, at the strategic police managers conference, the Acting Inspector General of Police Ag. IGP Olukayode Egbetokun stated that his goal was to stamp out violent crimes and increase safety and security in the country.
“The Command under my watch has since keyed into the vision and mission of the IGP. Part of my first major shake-up in the command was the redeployment of the then DPO Ovwain Aladja to Ekpan, owing to the volatile nature of that area. You will agree with me that Ekpan which used to be a troubled area is now very safe and residents can now go about their lawful businesses.
“In the month of September 2023, I directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations to embark on an on-the-spot assessment of Jesse Road, where kidnapping was gradually becoming the order of the day. Consequently, security strategies were reviewed culminating in the deployment of the DOPS Buffalo team, tactical teams, and the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad to the area. The strategy paid out as within few days of its emplacement, some suspected kidnappers were arrested while a good number of assault rifles were recovered.”
The State Government was praised by the CP for its consistent support of the Command. He said, “I also wish to commend the various sister security agencies for their continuous collaboration with the Command. My indebtedness also goes to residents who have continued to support the Command by providing us with useful, timely, and credible information. I would wish to use this medium to warn our youth to desist from jungle justice. Apart from being an act of self-help, jungle justice is barbaric.
“It festers a circle of violence and lawlessness thereby sabotaging the prospect of having the fundamental human rights of the victims protected. In several instances, victims of self-help are attacked based on frivolous allegations without being allowed access to a fair hearing. The Command will no longer tolerate this human rights abuse, as anyone who engages in such practice will be identified, fished out, and dealt with in accordance with the law,” the police boss warned.
