The Delta State Police Command confirmed on Thursday the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers after its operatives foiled a planned kidnapping by the gang.

The Delta Police spokesperson, DSP. Bright Edafe, while confirming the arrests in a statement, said the continued focus by the Command to protect the lives of all peace-loving residents of the state led them to a successful operation.

Edafe stated that it has led the Delta Police Force to the arrest of the members of the kidnapping syndicate that has been a menace in Oghara, Sapele, Warri and environs.

He said the operatives acted upon the receipt of an information related to the kidnapping of a 43-year-old woman (name with-held) who was kidnapped by a syndicate of armed men in a tricycle along Shell Road Sapele on November 19, 2023, at about 9pm while driving in her ML-350 Mercedez Benz.

The Victim was taken in her vehicle until the vehicle ran out of fuel, after which the suspected kidnappers moved her into their operational tricycle.

She was not released until November 22, only after the payment of Two Million Naira (#2,000,000) ransom.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, detailed the operatives of CP – DECOY Squad, led by the commander, ASP Julius Robinson, directing that they utilize all technically generated intelligence to get the perpetrators of the act,” Edafe said.

“Consequently, on November 25, the team embarked on a sting operation assisted by the DPO Sapele which led to the arrest of the syndicate’s gang leader, Morrison Godwin, a 41year-old male suspect from Okpara Water Side Community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State at Amukpe Area of Sapele Town at about 11am on the same date.

“The suspect confessed to the crime and revealed an intended meeting with other gang members to strategize on another kidnapping operation.”

Edafe said that armed with this information, the team laid an ambush at their meeting point on November 26 and arrested the other gang members, such as Raymond Etchie ‘m’ 46yrs who negotiated and received the said ransom and Felix Okoro ‘m’ 40yrs who is one of the syndicate’s operational driver.

The Delta Police also arrested Oghene Ogaga sylvester ‘m’ 45yrs who guarded the victim, Henry Edeki ‘m’ 35yrs, Ominike Sunday ‘m’ 23yrs, Jerusalem Sunday ‘m’ 35yrs and Theophilus Akpofi “m” 29yrs.

According to the Delta Police spokesperson, all the suspects confessed to the crime, admitting their various roles and they have been equally identified by the victim.

The suspects during interrogation disclosed the location of the victim’s vehicle, which was later recovered at Oghara Town.

Edafe added that effort is been intensified to recover the syndicate’s operational weapons.