Police Arrest 8 Notorious Kidnappers In Delta

Asaba, Delta State– The Delta State Police Command has arrested members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate responsible for a wave of terror in Oghara, Sapele, Warri, and surrounding areas of the State.

In a  statement released from the command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, said upon receiving information about the kidnapping of a 43-year-old woman (whose name was withheld), a syndicate of armed men abducted her while she was driving her ML-350 Mercedes Benz along Shell Road, Sapele on 19/11/2023, around 21:00 hours.

Edafe said the victim was taken in her vehicle, until the vehicle ran out of fuel, they moved her into their operational tricycle. She was released on November 22, 2023, upon payment of Two Million Naira (#2.000,000) ransom.

Kidnap Suspects

He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, detailed the operatives of CP – DECOY Squad, led by the commander ASP Julius Robinson, directing that they utilize all technically generated intelligence to get the perpetrators of the act.

Consequently, on November 25, the team embarked on a sting operation assisted by the DPO Sapele which led to the arrest of the syndicate’s gang leader Morrison Godwin, a 41-year-old male suspect from Okpara Water Side community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State at Amukpe Area of Sapele Town at about 1100hrs of the same date.

‘’The suspect confessed to the crime and revealed an intended meeting with other gang members on 25/11/2023 to strategize on another kidnapping operation. Armed with this information, the team laid an ambush at their meeting point on 26/11/20023 and arrested the other gang members viz: Raymond Etchie ‘m’ 46yrs who negotiated and received the said ransom; Felix Okoro ‘m’ 40yrs who is one of the syndicate’s operational driver; Oghene Ogaga sylvester ‘m’ 45yrs who guarded the victim; Henry Edeki ‘m’ 35yrs, Ominike Sunday ‘m’ 23yrs, Jerusalem Sunday ‘m’ 35yrs, and Theophilus Akpofi “m” 29yrs. All suspects confessed to the crime admitting their various roles and have been identified by the victim.

Mercedes Benz Recover

Edafe stated that the suspects during interrogation disclosed the location of the victim’s vehicle which was later recovered at Oghara Town. He said efforts have been intensified to recover the syndicate’s operational weapons.

‘’The Commissioner of Police Delta State applauded the DECOY Squad for their diligence that culminated in the arrest of the kidnappers, he also assures the public that more achievements are on the way, as the command is out to ensure the collective safety of the people of Delta State.

He once more urged the public to always trust the Police to effectively tackle crime in the State and to ensure that residents sleep with their two eyes closed.

He said security is everyone’s business hence the need to partner with the Police and help with all the needed information to tackle crime cannot be overemphasized.” the statement further reads