The Delta State Police Command has announced the arrest of suspected members of a notorious kidnap syndicate and the recovery of 247 rounds of live ammunition for a Submachine Gun (SMG) rifle in a major breakthrough against violent crime in the state.
The Command also said it apprehended 184 suspected internet fraudsters in a separate joint operation with the Nigerian Army.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, who disclosed this through the Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, in a press release on Wednesday, said the operations were in line with the Command’s intelligence-led policing strategy aimed at dismantling criminal networks across the state.
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According to the statement, the CP’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Peter Benson, 35, of Kwale in Ndokwa Local Government Area. Benson, believed to be a spiritual facilitator for the gang, later led operatives to arrest a 63-year-old native doctor, Joseph Saniyo, in Ajakorama community, Ovia South-West LGA, Edo State.
Acting on additional intelligence, the operatives stormed Oghara and apprehended the gang leader, Owei Abebo a.k.a. “Adusa”, 42, alongside two other accomplices: Ebi Maye, 41, from Warri North LGA, and Happy Obegha, 39, of Aakoroma community, Edo State.
A search of their hideouts led to the recovery of 247 live SMG rounds. The gang had allegedly planned coordinated kidnappings targeting high-profile individuals in Sapele and Oghara before their arrest foiled the operation.
In a related development, a combined team of police operatives from Ekpan Division and soldiers from the Nigerian Army carried out a raid on July 21 at about 5:45 p.m. in the Post Housing Estate, Effurun, based on credible intelligence regarding cybercrime and possible terrorism financing activities.
The raid led to the arrest of 33-year-old Kelvin Odini and 183 others allegedly involved in internet fraud. Items recovered from the scene include 273 assorted laptops, 97 smartphones, one iPad, one table phone, nine laptop chargers, and two Wi-Fi routers.
“All suspects and exhibits are in custody while investigations continue to determine the extent of their operations and arrest other accomplices,” the statement added.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, CP Olufemi reiterated the Command’s commitment to proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and community engagement to rid Delta State of criminal elements.
He assured residents of the Command’s resolve to make the state unsafe for criminals and to continue working tirelessly to protect lives and property.
