Police operatives kill member of notorious kidnap syndicate, arrest others in Delta

 Thursday, August 15, 2024–Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have neutralised a member of a notorious kidnap syndicate in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state and recovered weapons.  

The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, said the suspect, Joel Ochuko was k!lled during a gun duel with the gang. 

“On 12/8/2024 at about 0430hrs operatives of CP Special Squad with base in Ughelli while on investigation alongside a suspected kidnapper Joel Ochuko Ofoye ‘m’ who was earlier arrested on 18/7/2024, the suspect led the operatives to Ewu community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State in the trail of a gun runner who supply arms to them before their kidnapping operation,” the statement read. 

"While they were at it, the team came under attack by the suspect's gang members in a bid to free the said Joel Ochuko. The hoodlums were overpowered by the Police as they fled with bullet injuries but the suspect Joel Ochuko Ofoye was hit during the gun duel, and he was taken to general hospital Ughelli where he died while receiving treatment

“One Beretta Pistol with four (4) rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine (9) rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action was recovered, manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.” 

In another development, police operatives arrested four suspects in connection with the abduction of a resident in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

“Sequel to a case of kidnap of a 29yrs victim (name withheld) of Kokori Community in Ethiope East LGA Delta State but resident in Sapele Town who was kidnapped on 17/2/2024 at his residence by five (5) armed kidnapping syndicate, and Five Million Naira ( #5, 000, 000 ) was transferred from his account to an unknown bank account by the hoodlums,” the statement read. 

"The victim after regaining his freedom, reported to the Command, and the Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda directed the CP’s special squad to investigate and ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to book. 

"The operatives led by ASP Julius Robinson acting on available information provided by the kidnapped victim embarked on a technically driven investigation, stormed Sapele town on 11/08/2024 at about 0430hrs and raided the apartment of one Sapiro, real name unknown and upon search a Beretta Pistol was recovered in his room, his gang members Tony Binitie m" 29 yrs aka “BOBO” of Big-Warri Community in Warri South LGA Delta, who is the syndicate’s Gang Leader and one other co - gang member by name Ejiro Ewuba ‘m’ 30yrs a native of Uwelogbo community in Isoko LGA of Delta State resident at Owumi Road Sapele,"

"Also arrested was one Ayuba Hussaini ‘m’ 38yrs a resident of Hausa quarters Sapele town the receiver of the victim’s jewelries / phones valued at millions of Naira whom investigation also revealed to have received One Million Naira ( #1, 000, 000 ) transferred into his account from the victim’s account and also linked to have received victims valuables from various syndicates both the three(3) suspects confessed to the act meanwhile effort to arrest other gang members as investigation is ongoing." 

In the same vein, police operatives arrested five suspected members of the Black Axe Confraternity in Ogbovwan community and recovered three locally made cut-to-size guns, battle axes and cartridges.

“On 05/08/2024 at about 1100hrs a complaint was received by Ofuoma Division that on the same date, at about 0900hrs some suspected cultists gathered at Ovine Hotel Afiesere and later went to Ogbovwan Community and shot sporadically killed a dog chained in the house, doors and windows shattered with bullets the DPO Ofuoma division CSP Patrick Uebari upon receipt of this complaint led patrol teams to the scene,” the PPRO stated. 

"The suspects upon sighting the police took to their heels in different directions, the operatives went after them and arrested five suspects all suspected to be members of black axe confraternity. 

"Three locally-made cut-to-size guns, one battle axe twelve live cartridges, seven expended cartridges eight phones, and two cross bags. Efforts to arrest the other fleeing suspects are ongoing.

"The commissioner of Police Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has warned sternly that criminally minded individuals will not be allowed to thrive in the State and adequate deployments have been made to ensure that they are identified, arrested and brought to book. 

"The CP also urged members of the public to always trust and report cases to the police, and also pointed out the fact that these suspected kidnappers were arrested six months after the kidnap because the victim trusted the Police and made available all useful information which eventually led to their arrest.