Three people were arrested and are currently being held by the police as a result of a gunfight between the elite anti-kidnapping operatives of the Delta State Police Command and the alleged kidnapper.
The Command stated that the police squad had found an AK-49 rifle in one of the thugs’ hideouts and that an investigation was still underway.
This was contained in a statement signed by the police public relations officer for Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday.
The statement disclosed that the police team, acting on credible intelligence gathered over a period and in-depth technical intelligence related to the kidnapping of one male victim (name withheld) kidnapped on 17th May 2024 at his residence in the Adjakota area in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State and later murdered by the kidnappers, cracked down the deadly kidnapping syndicate responsible for the act.
“The police operatives, on July 1, 2024, at about 1200hrs, reportedly stormed the hideouts of the suspected kidnappers and arrested one Ismaila Umaru (28), of Kekura village, Awe LGA of Nasarawa State but resident at Oghara town by Power Line in Delta State.
“Umaru, on July 4, 2024, at about 2030hrs, led operatives to the arrest of two other gang members namely Chede Mohammed, (18), a native of Nasarawa State but resident at Agwara in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State and Mohammadu Sani (26), a native of Banbiru area of Abuja but resident at Upper Agbarho Area of Ughelli North.
“Acting on their confession, the police team on July 5, at about 0530hrs, stormed the bush by Oviri-ogor in search for other gang members. The operatives however encountered an attack from the other gang members. During the gun duel, one of the suspects hiding in the bush sustained serious gunshot injuries and was taken to the hospital where he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment,” the statement read partly.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, on resumption of duty as the 22nd Police Commissioner in Delta State, reacted to the incessant kidnappings in Ughelli axis, which necessitated the change in the security architecture in Ughelli, and deployment of a new Divisional Police officer to Ugheli Division.
