In a move to halt the activities of kidnappers terrorising residents, combined efforts of operatives in Delta State Police Command and the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja, have yielded success, as three suspects were arrested.
They were identified as Yakubu Ya’u, Musa Yakubu and Abdullahi Mohammed.
Thenewsbearer learnt that the suspects had been responsible for several kidnapping incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele, Warri and environs.
The police spokesman in the command, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest, said that intelligence gathered on some kidnapping incidents in the Warri axis revealed that it was being carried out by Ya’u, aged 20.
He was said to be a resident of Kaduna State, but used to come to Oha and Ughwagba Communities in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta to kidnap residents for ransom.
The PPRO stated: “On May, 11, 2024, at about 1743hrs (5:43pm), following combined effort from police operatives of the command and operatives from the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja on the hideout of the suspect in Warri, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Orerokpe Division, CSP Paul Oboware, immediately mobilised and led his patrol teams there.
“After a painstaking search of the entire area, the said Yakubu Ya’u was arrested.
“Preliminary investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other key gang members – one Musa Yakubu, aged 25, from Kogi State; and one Abdullahi Mohammed, aged 38, from Cameroon on May 12, at about 1049am.”
Edafe said further that after being identified by some kidnap victims, the suspects operatives of the Orerokpe Division to Ughwagba Community where two automatic pump-action guns, a live a artridge, and a knife hidden in the bush were recovered.
“Investigations are still ongoing, and efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gangs are in top gear,” the image-maker said.
Also, SP Edafe said that one 20-year-old Michael Udo was apprehended on Friday, May 10, at about 3pm, following a report made at Ozoro Division.
According to the PPRO, during investigation, a search warrant was executed in Udo’s premises, from where a locally-made revolver gun and two live cartridges were recovered
In addition, a suspected cultist identified as Chinedu Okolo of Ezhionum Community, aged 31, was arrested for forceful initiation of a resident into cultism.
Edafe disclosed that before the suspect’s arrest, the DPO of Obiaruku Division had received a distress call from a victim (name withheld) on Tuesday, May 14, at about 3am that he was being bullied and forced into a cult initiation.
“Acting on the complaint, the DPO mobilised police operatives and arrested the suspect.
“One locally-made double-barrel pistol and the handset forcefully taken from the victim were recovered from him. Efforts are in progress to apprehend other fleeing suspects,” he said.
In his comment, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, enjoined youths to shun all forms of criminality, cultism and abuse of drugs.
CP Abaniwonda reassured the public that the police would remain diligent in the relentless pursuit of those who seek to disrupt the collective peace of the state.
