The Delta State Police Command has announced the arrest of multiple suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, and cultists across various locations in the state.
Also, the police revealed that the operations led to the recovery of high-calibre firearms, ammunition, and other dangerous weapons.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bright Edafe, in a statement on Tuesday, said operatives from the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), carried out a decisive operation on May 16, 2025.
Edafe disclosed that during the operation, the police officers tracked and arrested members of a notorious inter-state kidnap gang operating across Delta, Rivers, Enugu, and Imo States.
He explained that the first arrest was made in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where a 21-year-old suspect, Idirisu Yakubu, was apprehended.
Yakubu’s confession led to the arrest of the gang leader, Bello Amodu, from Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, who also resides in Elelenwo.
Further investigation by the police, he said, resulted in the arrest of Umar Beto, believed to be heading the syndicate’s operations in the Enugu axis.
Edafe stated that based on the suspects’ cooperation, police operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with 23 rounds of live ammunition and one pump-action shotgun with seven live cartridges from a bush along the Ughelli-Ozoro Road.
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“In a separate intelligence-led operation, operatives from the Eagle Net Surveillance Team in Ughelli arrested Benjamin Benemor, 53, in Warri South Local Government Area. A raid on his residence uncovered an alarming cache of weapons.
“One English Beretta pistol (with magazine), one English double-barrel pump-action gun, one English single-barrel gun, one locally made single-barrel gun, one locally made short double-barrel gun, one battle axe and 15 live cartridges
“Benemor is believed to be connected to multiple kidnapping and robbery incidents in the region.
“On May 15, 2025, at approximately 6:30 am, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad flagged down a suspicious Volkswagen Jetta vehicle with registration number ASB18BH, along the Asaba-Benin Expressway.
“A search of the vehicle led to the arrest of two suspects, Blessing Ngbajime, and Okpako Oghenhovo, and the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol from Oghenhovo. Both suspects are currently being interrogated, and further profiling is ongoing,” the police statement said.
It added that the state Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, praised the professionalism and bravery of the officers involved in the operations.
Olufemi reaffirmed the command’s unwavering resolve to rid Delta State of crime and protect the lives and property of all residents.
“These arrests and recoveries reflect our strategic approach and commitment to security. We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation,” the state police boss said.
