By Augustine Ehikioya
Police officials in Delta State have conducted series of operations that cracked kidnappers and cultists groups in the State.
While suspects were arrested, guns, ammunition and stolen vehicles were recovered.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Sunday. It was made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “CP Wale Abass reiterates the Command’s commitment to an effective, intelligence driven, and community based policing to ensure that Deltans sleep with two eyes closed
“Sequel to the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023 in Ughellli town, and a ransom of one million naira was paid before their release, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Wale Abass directed the Command Decoy Squad to embark on an intelligence led investigation and ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book.”
In compliance with the CP’s directive, the statement said that operatives of the command Decoy Squad led by the Commander, ASP Julius Robinson, on 11/05/2023, at about 2315hrs, acted on credible intelligence gathered and embarked on a sting operation.
During the operation, it “arrested one Emmanuel James ‘m’ aged 32yrs of Otor-Udu, Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA), who is suspected to be the leader of the gang. On 12/05/2023, at about 0230hrs, the suspect led the operatives to Ejewu community, Udu LGA and arrested the syndicate driver, one Ejiro Peter ‘m’ aged 25yrs, a native of Kokori community in Ethiope East LGA.
“They confessed to their involvements in series of armed robbery and kidnapping operations in Ughelli and Warri which includes the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023, at ughellli town and a ransom of one million naira (N1,000,000.00) was paid before the couple was released.”
It added “On 12/05/2023, the suspects led the operatives to another notorious member of their criminal gang whose real name is unknown but fondly called “oh lord” at Egbike area in Udu.
“The suspect, upon sighting the Police, engaged them in a gun duel and escaped through the ceiling of his apartment with bullet injuries.
“When his apartment was searched, a bag containing a locally fabricated pistol and three (03) rounds of 7.62 AK47 live ammunition were recovered.”
The statement said that manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
It went on “On 05/05/2023, at about 1730hrs, operatives of the Command State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), while on a joint operation with Dragon patrol, safer highway, raiders squad, RRS at Afisere /Ughelli, they arrested the duo of Tega Precious’ m’ aged 28 yrs and Ebi Marvellvous ‘m’ aged 27 yrs, one revolver pistol two live ammunition were recovered from them.
“Suspects confessed to be members of Neo black movement (NBM) cult group. The suspects led the operatives to their hideout, where two pump action guns, two double barrel guns, one single barrel gun and sixteen live cartridges, were recovered. Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.”
Speaking on another success, the statement said “The Command recorded another success on 12/5/2023 in Agbarho when operatives of Agbarho Police station were on stop and search duty when they sighted a red GLK Mercedes benz and flagged down the vehicle, the suspect on sighting the Police quickly highlighted from the Benz GLK 350 with reg. number WWR 441 MD and escaped into the bush.
“The vehicle was recovered to the station and searched during which, a phone number which turned out to be the phone number of owner of the vehicle was seen, and when he was contacted, he confirmed that the car was stolen from him at gun point on 11/5/2023.
“Similarly, on 11/5/2023 at about 1300 hours, operatives of Dragon 19 and 20, while on stop and search duty along Ughelli-Patani expressway, flagged down a Toyota camry with reg no. ABC 810 DK, the suspect jumped out from the vehicle and escaped into the bush.
“The vehicle was recovered, and investigations so far revealed that it was snatched at gun point on 10/5/2023 in Sapele. Manhunt for the suspects is ongoing,” it said.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Wale Abass, it said, assured residents that the Command will be working round the clock to ensure that anyone terrorizing the State will be arrested and brought to justice.
