By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested two suspected kidnappers after they allegedly emerged from their forest hideout to purchase food and medicine, only to be identified by one of their alleged victims.
The suspects, identified as Iliyasu Hassan and Idris Abdulkarim, were apprehended by officers attached to the Ughelli ‘A’ Division in collaboration with members of a local vigilante group during an operation conducted at about 8:30 p.m. on June 22, 2026.
Police said one of the victims of a previous kidnapping incident spotted the suspects and identified them as members of the gang responsible for his abduction, prompting their immediate arrest.
Preliminary investigations further linked the suspects to a failed kidnapping attempt carried out on June 19, 2026.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, said the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue.
He added that efforts were underway to apprehend other members of the kidnapping syndicate and recover the weapons allegedly used in their operations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended residents and members of the local vigilante group for their vigilance and cooperation, describing their support as crucial to the successful operation.
He urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Delta State.
