Over eight suspected kidnappers have been arrested by the Delta State Police Command, which also recovered a total of N4 million in ransom money.
The arrests were part of a series of operations aimed at curbing rising criminal activity in the state, Commissioner of Police Abaniwonda Olufemi announced during a press briefing in Asaba.
On May 12, officers from the Dragon Patrol Team stopped a gold Toyota Sienna along the Kwale/Ozoro expressway. A search of the vehicle uncovered N3.1 million in cash, leading to the arrest of four suspects.
They were later linked to the abduction of a woman in Ughelli, held captive for four days before her family paid a N4 million ransom. The victim has since identified the suspects.
Two days earlier, the CP-Special Assignment Team tracked down a gang leader, Abdullahi Ibrahim, 22, in Ore, Ondo State. He and an accomplice, Adamu Usman, were found hiding in the area. Their confession led police to a forest near the Ore-Lagos expressway, where an AK-47 rifle, a locally made long gun, and live ammunition were recovered.
Another breakthrough came the same day as the Sienna bust. Acting on intelligence, operatives from the anti-kidnapping and cybercrime unit arrested Lawal Tasiu, 26, at Koka Junction in Asaba. Found in possession of N900,000, Tasiu admitted it was part of a ransom collected from a recent kidnapping in Ibusa. His statement led officers to a hideout in Issele-Azagba, where more firearms and ammunition were recovered.
In a separate case, police in Warri apprehended 49-year-old Joy Temitope Oyetimi for child theft. She allegedly drugged a mother with juice and abducted her two-month-old baby. The infant, now five months old, was rescued and returned to his parents following an intelligence-led investigation by the Ekpan Police Division.
Commissioner Olufemi reaffirmed the command’s commitment to stamping out criminal networks across the state.
Investigations into the various cases continue.
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