KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the Delta State Command have arrested 12 persons, including a self acclaimed Pastor for kidnapping, cultism, murder and illegally dealing on drugs and other criminal activities across the state.
P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, who paraded the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Asaba and stated that they were arrested by the Police Special team during operations across the state.
The Police boss stated that due to the rate of kidnapping in Ughelli and its environs, Police special team was detailed to work in synergy with the newly posted Divisional Police Officer in Ughelli Police Division to fish out the faceless kidnappers, and ensure that they were brought to book.
CP Olufemi explained that on 8th April, 2024, the operatives on the special assignment working on credible intelligence stormed one of the hotels in Udu Local Council and arrested a notorious kidnapper.
He stated that the arrested suspect gave useful information that led to the recovery of one pump action gun loaded with four live cartridges, one Beretta pistol and three rounds of 9mm ammunition.
He further stated that a 17-year old suspected self kidnapper was arrested on March 20, at about 4:00a.m. by the DPO Agbor, in Okhumera quarters, Agbor-obi.
“The suspect forwarded a voice note to the sister stating that he had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N1million ransom.”
“The DPO swung into action, acting on a technically generated intelligence, and arrested three suspects, and investigation revealed that the 17-year- old connived with his friends and faked his own kidnap.”
“Before they were arrested, they had already collected a ransom of N700,000 and squandered the money. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
The Police boss added that on April 6, at about 5:15a.m., operatives of Eagle-Net Special Squad arrested a 53-year old Sunday Eze with 375 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup, 44 bottles of other brands of Codeine, 120 sachets of Tramadol and 33 sachets of Swinol.
According to him, the Police were on routine patrol along Asaba-Agbor Expressway, Isele-Asagba, when they flagged down a white Toyota Hiace Bus driven by the male suspect.
The bus and the driver were subjected to a search, during which the illegal drugs were recovered from the suspect, who is now cooling off in Police custody pending the outcome of the investigation.
The CP further said one Ogwu Endurance, ‘m, was nabbed for sexually assaulting a 23-year-old student of Delta State University, Abraka.
According to him, the team ambushed and arrested the suspect with two single barrel cut-to-size guns.
“Preliminary information revealed that the suspect has been involved in a series of kidnappings in Abraka axis,” he said.