Mohamed Garba
In a of proactive policing, the Delta State Police Command announced the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers and the recovery of ₦4 million in ransom, alongside arms and ammunition. Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, credited intelligence-led raids and targeted patrols for disrupting a criminal network terrorizing communities across the state.
Over the past week, operatives from multiple specialized units of the Delta Command, intercepted a Toyota Sienna on May 12 while conducting a stop-and-search on the Ughelli–Asaba route, arresting four suspects and recovering ₦3.1 million linked to the abduction of a woman in Ughelli. Tracked and apprehended a gang leader in Ore, Ondo State, on May 10, leading to the seizure of an AK-47 rifle, a locally made long gun, and live ammunition. Foiled a ransom handover at Koka Junction, Asaba, on May 12, arresting another suspect in connection with an Ibusa kidnapping and recovering ₦900 000 of the ransom and rescued an infant in Warri by arresting a child-trafficking suspect who had drugged a mother to abduct her two-month-old baby.
On May 12, the Dragon Patrol Team stopped a gold Toyota Sienna carrying passengers from Ughelli. Searches revealed ₦3.1 million on four young men—Abubakar Alwalu (25), Usman Husseini (25), Adamu Mohammed (30), and Anwalu Umaru (23)—all of whom were identified by their victim as part of a five-man gang that had abducted her and held her captive for four days.
Two days earlier, CP-Special Assignment Team operatives trailed 22-year-old Abdullahi Ibrahim from Ekenwa Community, Edo State, to Ore town, Ondo State. His arrest led to that of gang member Adamu Usman (24). In a forest near the Ore–Lagos Expressway, officers recovered one AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds and a locally made long gun with six rounds.
Acting on intelligence about a kidnapping in Ibusa, unknown victim, officers from the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime squad chased down 26-year-old Lawal Tasiu of Abuja at Koka Junction. He was found with ₦900 000, his share of the ransom, and led police to a hideout in Issele-Azagba where another AK-47, pump-action shotgun, two magazines, and 87 rounds were seized.
In a separate probe, the DPO of Ekpan station uncovered a child-trafficking plot when a mother’s juice was laced to incapacitate her. Joy Temitope Oyetimi (49) was arrested in Warri, and the five-month-old baby was safely returned to his family.
“Proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and rapid raids on criminal hideouts remain our unwavering strategy,” CP Abaniwonda declared at the Asaba press briefing. He pledged to sustain pressure on kidnappers and traffickers, urging public cooperation to provide tips that can save lives and restore security to Delta State communities.
