Police arrest three suspected kidnappers/armed robbers/cultists, recover arms, ammunition

Delta Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers/armed robbers/cultists and recovered some arms and ammunition from them.

In a press statement signed by Delta State Command's Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright said intelligence gathered on some kidnapping incidents in the Warri axis revealed that it is being carried out by one suspect named Yakubu Ya’u, a 20- year old suspect who resides in Kaduna, but always comes to Oha and Ughwagba Communities in Okpe Local Government Area to kidnap unsuspecting residents for ransom. 

The statement said based on this intelligence, on the 11th  May, 2024  at about 1743hours, with the  combined efforts of Police Operatives of the Command and that of Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja, the DPO Orerokpe, CSP Paul Oboware, immediately mobilized and led his patrol teams to suspect's hideout in Warri. 

The statement added that after the Police' painstaking  search of the entire area, the said Yakubu Ya’u was arrested.

According to the statement, preliminary investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other key gang members namely: one Musa Yakubu 'm' age, 25 years from Kogi State and one Abdulahi Mohammed 'm' age 38 years from Cameroon on 12th May 2024 at about 1049 hours.

The  suspects are allegedly responsible for several kidnapping incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele, Warri, and environs just as  the  victims have equally identified the suspects.

The suspected kidnappers further  led the detectives of the Orerokpe Division to Ughwagba Community in Okpe Local Government Area, where two automatic pump action guns, one live cartridge, and one knife that were hidden and buried in the bush, were recovered. Preliminary investigations are still ongoing, and efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gangs are on top-gear.

In a related development, on the  10th May,2024, at about 1500hrs, when the Police Operatives  acted  on a report made at Ozoro Division, they  arrested one Michael Udo (m) aged 20 years. The statement said, during investigation, a search warrant was executed in his premises where a locally made revolver gun and two live cartridges were recovered in his house. Investigation is ongoing.

In the same vein, on the 14th May, 2024, at  about 0300hr, the DPO Obiaruku Division, received a report from a distress caller, that he was being bullied and forced into a cult initiation. The DPO, Obiaruku, mobilized Police Operatives and arrested the suspect identified as Chinedu Okolo ‘m’, aged 31 years  of Ezhionum Community. According to the statement, items recovered were:  one locally-made- double- barrel pistol and the handset which were forcefully taken from the victim. Efforts are in progress to arrest other fleeing  suspects.

Part of the statement reads: "On 10 /5/24 at about 1500hrs, while acting on a report made at Ozoro division, a report was made at the Ozoro Division, police operatives arrested one Michael Udo (m) aged 20yrs, during investigation, a search warrant was executed in his premises where a Locally Made Revolver Gun and Two live Cartridges were recovered in his house. Investigation is ongoing".

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi  has  warned  youths to shun all forms of criminality, cultism, and abuse of drugs just as he  reassured the public that Police would do due diligence in the relentless pursuit of those who seek to disrupt the collective peace of the state.