A former Emu-Uno councilor, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Ndubisi Okechukwu, has been arrested for his involvement in a foiled kidnap plot targeting a prominent member of the Abbi community.
His arrest is in connection to the kidnap attempt as was disclosed in a press statement by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Edafe Bright, pointing that the police intelligence linked Okechukwu, a two-time councilor suspended from his role, to the scheme, reportedly hatched in hopes of coercing a ransom payment from local government officials due to the victim’s close ties with the chairman.
According to Edafe, On October 21, 2024, officers from the Abbi Division, led by DPO CSP Florence Echikwu, acted on credible intelligence and apprehended Okechukwu.
He added that Okechukwu confessed that his suspension from office motivated him to orchestrate the crime, believing that the financial reward would restore his fortunes. He remains in police custody as investigations continue.
Similarly, the command has also recovered a black Toyota Corolla at Sapele’s Amukpe Roundabout abandoned by a kidnap suspect, Philip Onoghosa, a notorious gang leader linked to a kidnapping syndicate, who narrowly escaped apprehension on October 25.
Read also: Chika Nwoba vows to revamp PDP leadership as National Publicity Secretary
He explained that the suspect after spotting operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), abandoned the vehicle and escaped, adding that a search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Beretta pistol concealed beneath the driver’s seat, prompting a manhunt for the fugitive.
In another operation, the Safer Highway Patrol Team recovered a black Toyota RAV4 SUV, suspected to be stolen, on Mosogar-Benin Road on October 22. The driver evaded police pursuit, fleeing into nearby bushland. Upon inspection of the abandoned vehicle, officers discovered two metal master keys and 14 different Toyota keys, along with the owner’s contact information, confirming the vehicle had been stolen from Kogi State.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, affirmed the command’s commitment to reducing crime across the state, with heightened security and patrols set in place during the festive “Ember” months. He urged citizens to support police efforts by providing credible information to aid in combating crime and ensuring a safer Delta State.
