The Delta State Police Command has arrested suspected kidnappers while it recovered part of the ransom collected from victims in different kidnap operations.
Also apprehended was a suspected child trafficker, Mrs Joy Temitope Oyetimi, who allegedly stole a two-month-old boy child from his mother after drugging her through juice drink in February.
This was just as the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, talked tough on criminals at a press briefing on Thursday, May 15, as he said that the command is tackling the menace of kidnapping with all available resources.
This, he stated, is to ensure the hoodlums’ arrest and prosecution for disturbing the peace in Delta State.
Showcasing the Command’s recent achievements, the Commissioner of Police spoke on the arrest of four kidnap suspects identified as Abubakar Auwalu, Usman Husseini, Adamu Mohammed and Auwalu Umaru.
Disclosing how the suspects were apprehended, the police boss said that on Monday, May 12, at about 9:30a.m., operatives of Dragon patrol team, while conducting stop and search along Kwale/Ozoro expressway, intercepted a gold colour Toyota Sienna bus loaded with passengers from Ughelli, enroute Asaba.
When the operatives searched the vehicle, they recovered the sum of N3.1 million from the four suspects, CP Abaniwonda said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belong to a gang of five, and were allegedly responsible for the kidnap of a lady from her house in Ughelli Town.
“They held her captive for four days and collected a ransom of N4million on May 11.
“The victim has identified the four suspects. Investigation is ongoing,” CP Abaniwonda said.
The Commissioner of Police also spoke on the arrest of another kidnapper, Abdullahi Ibrahim, and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle.
The CP said that on May 10, at about 5:59p.m., operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence, trailed and arrested the suspected kidnapper and gang leader, aged 22, in Ore Town, Ondo State.
Thenewsbearer gathered that the arrest of the suspect, who was resident in Ekenwa Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, led the operatives to another suspect and member of his gang, identified as Adamu Usman, aged 24, who was from Abeokuta in Ogun State.
Both suspects were said to have taken refuge in Ore town, Ondo State.
The Commissioner of Police said: “Upon interrogation, the suspects led operatives to a forest along Ore-Lagos expressway near a popular area called ‘Stepdown’ where one AK-47 rifle, loaded with 14 rounds of live ammunition, and a locally-made long gun with six rounds of live cartridges were recovered.
Also arrested on May 12, at about 10:30a.m., was another suspect, Lawal Tasiu, aged 26.
The Police Commissioner said that the arrest was made by operatives of Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime squad, led by the Commander, who acted on credible intelligence relating to the kidnap of a victim (name withheld) at Itego Community, Ibusa, with an undisclosed amount paid as ransom.
The operatives were said to have stormed Koka junction in Asaba, where Tasiu, resident of FCT, Abuja, was arrested after a hot chase.
When the suspect was searched, a sum of N900,000 was recovered from him, and during interrogation, he confessed to being a member of a syndicate terrorising Ibusa/Ogwashi-Uku/Issele-Azagbe environs.
The suspect also disclosed that the money in his possession was part of his own share of ransom collected.
On May 13, at about 6:30a.m., the suspect reportedly led operatives to his gang’s hideout at Issele-Azagba area where one AK-47 rifle, one pump action gun, two AK-47 magazines and 87 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered.
The CP disclosed that the suspected human trafficker was arrested following a report received by the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpan Police Station, that a 20-year-old nursing mother embarked on a business trip with the suspect from Koko to Warri on February 16.
Along the way, the suspect allegedly drugged the nursing mother through juice drink, making her to sleep, while she disappeared with the baby.
Acting on the information, the DPO reportedly embarked on an intelligence-led investigation, trailed and arrested the suspect.
When interrogated, the suspect reportedly confessed to stealing the baby.
“The baby, who is now five months old, has been rescued and handed over to his parents.
“The suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing,” the CP stated.
