The Delta State Police Command said it has arrested five suspects kidnap gang responsible for terrorizing Ughelli and environ, recovering four locally made guns and the sum of N450,00 ransom money.
The Command spokesman, SP Bright Edafe disclosed this in a press release made available to newsmen in Asaba, revealing that the gang was responsible for the abduction of a 70-year-old woman (name withheld) on the 8th of September, 2024 who was released two days later after payment of N7,900,000 as ransom.
Edafe also disclosed that it has also arrested in custody two car snatchers along Asaba/Benin Express Way where recovering two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla with REG NO: AWK 597 ND and a Toyota Camry with REG NO: GDD 149 MA.
Detailing the events, the Police Spokesman said, “On 12/09/2024, Crack Squad attached to Area Command Ughelli, acting on a tip off, stormed a brothel cum criminal hideout in Ewu town Ughelli South LGA and arrested five suspects, namely; Dominic Uweru “m” Alias Ovwolo 48YRS, Isaac Oghenerukevwe ‘m’ Alias Plug 34yrs, Oviri Godstime “m” 25yrs, Junior Sunday ‘m’ and Efedeki Adjovo ‘m’.
“One single barrel gun, three locally made cut-to-size gun, cash sum of Four hundred and fifty thousand naira (N450,000.00) ransom one Moniepoint POS machine, one OPAY POS machine, wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered.
“They confessed to various armed robbery/kidnapping operations in Ughelli and environs, including the kidnap of a 70-year-old woman (name withheld) who they kidnapped on 08/09/2024 and collected the sum of Seven million, Nine hundred thousand naira ransom (N7,900,000) on 10/9/2024 before her release. The suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.
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“On 05/09/24 the Anti-crime patrol team of Aboh division while on stop and search duty in Aboh town intercepted one motorcycle conveying two occupants carrying a bag, the occupants were subjected to a routine search, while the search was going on, one of them took to his heels and escaped. Nine Hundred and Thirty Rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered in the bag. The other suspect Anthony Godday was immediately arrested. Investigation is ongoing.
“On 09/09/2024, acting on credible intelligence, the commander CP Monitoring team SP Inyere Elias Chinedu unit led operatives to KM 9 Asaba/Benin Express Way where two male suspects namely, Olisa Emenoha ‘m’ aged 26yrs of Ifete Awka, Iteke Uchenna Wilson ‘m’ aged 26yrs of road 21 Ngozika Estate Awka both from Anambra State were arrested in possession of Toyota Corolla with REG NO: AWK 597 ND Toyota Camry with REG NO: GDD 149 MA suspected to be stolen and they were about to dispose of the vehicles. Preliminary investigation revealed that, they are serial car snatchers and one of the vehicles was snatched at a gunpoint in Akwa Ibom State.
“Acting on credible information, operatives of Agbarho police station stormed the house of one Ovoke Enaike m’ age 43yrs an indigene of Ovierie Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State but resides in Ehwerhe Village Agbarho, during the search of his daylong motorcycle with Reg. NO: DTS XLEH 13 WL, a nylon bag containing the following one Locally Fabricated Gun, one live cartridge and thirty-eight rounds of AK 47 Rifle Ammunition hidden under the motorcycle seat was recovered. Suspect in Agbarho Police Custody, efforts are on top gear to arrest the remaining gang members and recover more arms. Case will be transferred to State Headquarters Asaba, preliminary investigation in progress, and further development will be communicated.”
