Police rescue two kidnap victims, arrest armed robbery suspect in Delta

Delta State police operatives have rescued two kidnap victims and arrested an armed robber and a cable vandaliser, according to the state police spokesperson, Bright Edafe.

Edafe, in a statement on Sunday, said the kidnap victims were rescued on Thursday at about 11 a.m. when police operatives raided the suspects’ hideout inside Oghara-Ugbenu Forest in the state.

He stated that the operation was in response to a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Oghara Divisional Police Headquarters, Olasunkanmi Musiliu, that the two victims had been abducted and taken into the forest.

“The operatives relentlessly combed the forest, which forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and escape. The operatives rescued the two kidnapped victims unhurt and have since reunited (them) with their families,” Edafe said.

Four live cartridges, a Tecno Spark mobile phone, one ATM card, and three SIM cards from different telecommunication networks were recovered from the suspects.

Edafe added that in a separate operation on the same day, police operatives from Eagle Net Special Squad raided a criminal hideout at Isieke Quarters, Asaba, and arrested an armed robbery suspect, Chimuanya Onwusonye.

The police spokesman said Onwusonye, a 30-year-old suspect who resides in Onitsha, Anambra State, was searched on the spot, and a Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition was recovered from him.

“The suspect was immediately taken into custody, and the investigation is ongoing,” Edafe stated.

In another operation, the police spokesperson disclosed that police operatives from Safe Delta Squad also arrested a suspect who specialised in vandalising cables.

The suspect, Michael Danjuma, 23, is a native of Latang in Plateau State but resides in Hausa Market by Custom Okpanam in Delta State.

Some exhibits were recovered from Danjuma’s residence after the operatives conducted a search.

Edafe stated that one Beretta pistol, one magazine, some vandalised cables, two ATM cards, and one steel pair of scissors were among the items recovered from the suspect’s residence.

He noted that Danjuma is in custody and will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Wale Abass, has vowed that the police will go after criminals in the state.

Abass said that given the upsurge in crime rates towards the end of the year, residents of the state should be alert.

The police commissioner, however, appealed to the residents to volunteer “useful information” to the police about criminals.