Four residents of Orerokpe community who were kidnapped for ransom by gunmen have been rescued by a joint team of Police officers, men of the Nigerian Army and Orerokpe community vigilantes.
The victims were kidnapped on Monday 11th September, 2023 while on transit along Abraka-Eku expressway, by the Orerokpe Bridge in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State and their abductors were demanding for N10 million ransom to set the free before the joint team of the security operatives stormed the area and rescued the victims.
Narrating how the victims were rescued, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police said on Wednesday in a press statement that the security operative acted on technically generated intelligence.
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer of Orerokpe Division, CSP Paul Oboware led a team of Policemen, with the active support of troops of the Nigerian Army, and members of oreorokpe community vigilantes into the adjoining bushes and trailed the kidnappers till they abandoned their captives.
“They combed the bushes relentlessly putting pressure on the kidnappers who on sighting the rescue team hastily abandoned the victims and took to their heels. Consequently, all the kidnapped victims were rescued and taken to the hospital where they were treated, discharged, and have since been reunited with their families. Efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” DSP Edafe stated.
Meanwhile, the Orerokpe division has arrested some suspected armed robbers and recovered four cut-to-size guns. The DPO was said to have deployed Crack Squad of the Division to embark on a proactive and crime preventing policing within his area of responsibility when the suspects were apprehended.
DSP Edafe narrated that the Crack Squad in a combined effort with the Aragba vigilantes, initiated an intensive stop-and-search operation at Aragba Junction along Sapele Aghalokpe Road Okpe LGA, where they accosted one Sunday Yerakpo in possession of four new locally-made cut-to-size guns.
“The 35-year-old male suspect who hails from Orhuwhorun in Odu LGA, had concealed the four new locally fabricated cut-to-size gun under the seat of his red QLINK Motorcycle (REG NO JRT178VH).
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“The suspect was immediately arrested and preliminary investigation revealed that he deals in gun running and that one of his accomplices known as Ose Ogboyen ‘m’ sent him to deliver the arms to a client popularly known as “Saputu”. Efforts to arrest the said Ose Ogboyen and Saputu are ongoing,“ he said.
In a similar development at Ogulagha community in Burutu LGA, one Prince Diegbegha, a 25 years old man was arrested for the possession of one Makarov pistol.
The operation was carried out on 9th September 2023 by operatives of Ogulagha Police post led by the district officer (DO) in collaboration with local members of the Nigeria hunters in the community, forest security service. The operatives were said to have stormed the residence of the suspect, where he was arrested.
“During interrogation, the suspect stated that he bought the gun for Two Hundred Thousand Naira (200,000) from one Oshimili (now late) in the year 2018 at Ozoro. The suspect and Exhibit are in custody and investigation is ongoing,” the police spokesperson stated.
He added that the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass assured residents that the command won’t relent in doing all it takes to protect the lives and properties of citizens in the State.
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