Following an intelligence-led investigation and the raid of the house of a suspected kidnap gang leader, simply known as Emeka, at Evwokenren layout off Ughelli road Agbarho in Ughelli North LGA, operatives of Delta State Police Command arrested one of suspected kidnappers on February 2 at about 4:35pm.
This was made known in a statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe on Friday, February 21,.
The arrest came after some of the suspects had already been arrested on January 31.
The suspects were said to have been terrorising Abraka/Obiaruku/Umutu area.
During the raid, the operatives of the CP Special Assignment team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, recovered a fabricated semi-automatic Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, four locally-made cut-to-size guns, 13 rounds of live cartridges, and a pair of military uniforms concealed in a black polythene bag.
The PPRO said that the suspect is already in custody and a manhunt to arrest other members of his gang is ongoing.
Also arrested were suspects in possession of three locally-made long guns and charms.
They were identified as Buhari Bala, aged 28; Habibu Sale, aged 25; Abdulwahab Musa, aged 20; and Taisu Bala, aged 20.
According to Edafe, operatives of Safer 025 of Safer Highway patrol intercepted the suspects and the weapons on Wednesday, February 19, at about 4p.m., while conducting stop and search on a commercial vehicle along Agbor/Benin expressway.
The PPRO stated that when interrogated, the suspects claimed they were coming from Zaria, Kaduna State, and going to a bush before Benin City called Igbogri Community for hunting expedition.
In an earlier development, on January 17, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Agbarho Division, CSP Pius Eredei, mobilised and led operatives to the apartment of one 40-year-old man, Eriga Enyuche, while acting on a tip-off.
Thenewsbearer learnt that when the suspect’s one-room apartment was searched, one G-3 rifle and one pump-action gun were recovered from where they were hidden hidden in the ceiling of the room.
The police spokesman said that investigation is ongoing on all the suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda said that the command under his watch would not relent in the fight against crime and criminality, as his officers would make the state hot for the criminals.
The police commissioner urged members of the public to continue to make available useful, timely, and credible information to law enforcement officers by reporting to the nearest police station or by calling the command control room numbers: 08036684974, 08114895600 and 08025666914.
