Six suspected kidnappers/armed robbers were on Thursday, December 15, 2022, arrested by operatives attached to Ekpan police station in Delta State Police Command after the interception of a Toyota Sienna space bus without registration number, with weapons and other items found in it.
The weapons included three pump action guns, four locally-made guns, a long axe, seven expended cartridges, nine live cartridges and three cutlasses.
Other items were native charms and two number plates.
The command’s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest on Saturday, December 17, said that the police team was on patrol along Jakpa Road, at about 8pm, when the bus conveying six male occupants was seen.
After being subjected to a search, the PPRO said that the suspects, including one Aaron Okorigwe, aged 27, could not give reasonable account of themselves, and were taken into custody.
“Investigation later revealed that they were hoodlums who operate under the guise of being members of hunters group from Ovwian Aladja, but would also sneak into Ekpan Community in a Sienna vehicle, rob and kidnap unsuspecting victims.
“After robbing them, they would run to hibernate in Ovwian Aladja.
“Following these findings, on Friday, December 16, the Divisional Police Officer invited three people (names withheld), who had, at one time or the other, been victims of armed robbery and kidnapping in the area.
“The suspects were placed on identification parade, and they were identified by the victims as the syndicate that robbed and kidnapped them,” DSP Edafe disclosed.
He said that investigation was still ongoing.
