Police arrest suspected kidnappers, others in Delta

The Delta State Police Command yesterday paraded suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, drug dealers and others arrested in Ughelli, Sapele, Ekpan, Warri, and environs.

Parading the suspects yesterday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, said the Command is committed to ensure that Deltans sleep with their two eyes closed even as the yuletide season is approaching.

He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police to constantly monitor and supervise officers and men of the command to ensure that the operational order for ember months is duly complied with.

Giving details of the arrests, the CP said based on intensive Intel on a syndicate that specialises in kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching and defrauding of suspecting victims bank accounts via SIM swap around Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Oghara, Abraka and their environs, operatives of CP – Special Assignment Team (CP – SAT ) on November 18, effected the arrest of a notorious gang member of the said syndicate, 41-year-old Godstime Ajugba of Wellington Road Area, Mosogar Ethiope East council area of Delta State.

He said upon interrogation, the suspect led operatives to their criminal hideout situated by “Small Pastor Area”, at the outskirts of Mosogar town where they usually keep victims and weapons.
Upon search in the ceiling, two AK 47 rifles, one K2 rifle, two Automatic Pump Action guns, one locally made cut-to-size gun, five AK 47 rifle magazines, three K2 rifle magazines, 101 k2 rifle live ammunition, two handcuffs and 10 live cartridges were recovered.

Also, on November 20, at about 4:30.p.m., he said, the surveillance team of Ekpan Division while on patrol along Effurun Roundabout axis, arrested a 31-year-old suspect identified as Eto with a black bag containing 57 live cartridges.

Following Eto’s confession, the Police team mobilised to their hideout at Coco Nut Village Along Warri/Sapele Road by Mercy City, and arrested a 25-year-old man identified as Sunny, who was waiting to receive the consignment.

The suspects led operatives to their forest main hideout behind 3 Battalion Barracks Army Estate Effurun along Warri/Sapele road being their main camp ‘Korodo’.
He said as other gang members waiting inside the forest camp sighted Police vehicles they engaged them in a shoot-out.

During the gun duel the arrested suspects who were leading the police to the hideout were fatally wounded by gunshots from their gang members while others escaped.

He added that when a discreet search was conducted at the camp, one English Pump Action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges, six iPhones, some Smart phones and a Rolex Gold wrist watch were all recovered in a black bag.

The two injured suspects during the crossfire were taken to the hospital where they died while receiving treatment.
The CP said a manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.