Delta State Police Command reports multiple arrests and recoveries in July 2025

Delta State Police Command reports multiple arrests and recoveries in July 2025

By Naomi Onome

During a press briefing at the state command on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi PSC intimated pressmen on the command’s scorecard for the month of July 2025. The command, he says, has continued to make Delta State a hot spot for criminals by maintaining continuous, proactive, intelligence-driven policing and community policing.

The Delta State Police Command has reported several achievements in July 2025, including:

DEATH OF TWO SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS/RECOVERY OF THREE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND NAIRA RANSOM, ONE AK-47 RIFLE AND THIRTY-NINE ROUNDS OF LIVE AMMUNITION: On 30/07/2025 at about 2300 hrs, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad, in a combined effort with men of the Nigerian Army attached to the 63 Brigade Nigerian Army base, embarked on an intelligence-led operation and stormed Ogwashi-Ukwu forest, the hideout of some suspected kidnappers who kidnapped two female polytechnic students on 23/07/2025 at Asagba Ogwashi. The combined teams engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun duel, which led to the death of two suspected kidnappers. One AK-47 rifle, thirty-nine rounds of live ammunition, and a bag containing the sum of three million five hundred thousand naira (₦3,500,000), suspected to be ransom collected from one of their victims, were recovered.

ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, AND RECOVERY OF ONE AK-47 RIFLE AND TWO PUMP-ACTION GUNS; Acting on credible intelligence on the activities of some suspected kidnappers, on 27/07/2025 at about 0120 hrs, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), with support from the X-Squad and Buffalo Patrol Team of the command, stormed a criminal hideout along Ibusa Road and arrested a suspected kidnapper known as Chiadiji Collins, AKA “Smooth”, m’ 42 yrs. Upon interrogation of the suspect, he led operatives to his residence at Ewulu community in Aniocha South LGA, Delta State, where one AK-47 rifle and forty (40) rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition were recovered. Further investigation led to the arrest of his accomplice, Ezechie Andrew ‘m’, of the same community, in whose possession two (2) pump actions and two (2) live cartridges were recovered. They are suspected to be involved in a series of kidnappings in Ogwashi-Uku, Isseluku and other parts of Delta State.

FOILED KIDNAPPING, ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, AND RECOVERY OF TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN (247) ROUNDS OF SMG LIVE AMMUNITION: Sequel to a series of intelligence reports received on the planned abduction of some high-profile persons in Sapele, Oghara, and environs by a notorious syndicate under the leadership of one Owei Abebo, alias “ADUSA”, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team embarked on a strategic but intelligence-led operation. On 19th July 2025, the operatives arrested one Peter Benson, a 35-year-old male suspect from Kwale in Ndokwa LGA, Delta State, who is a herbalist responsible for ritual preparations for the criminal gang. Following intensive interrogation, Peter Benson led operatives to another suspect, one Joseph Saniyo, 63 years old, of Ajakorama Community, Ovia South-West LGA, Edo State, in possession of three live tortoises and other fetish items believed to be used in criminal fortification rituals. Acting swiftly on further investigation, the gang leader Owei Abebo, a.k.a. “Adusa”, aged 42; Ebi Maye, aged 41 years; and Happy Obegha, aged 39 years, were arrested in Oghara. Two hundred and forty-seven (247) rounds of SMG live ammunition were recovered.

ARREST OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR (184) SUSPECTED INTERNET FRAUDSTERS: The command, in a combined effort with the Nigerian Army, on the 21st of July 2025 at about 1745 hrs, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a coordinated raid on a location within Post Housing Estate, Effurun, where suspected internet fraud was taking place. The operation resulted in the arrest of one Kelvin Odini, aged 33 years, and one hundred and eighty-three (183) others engaged in online fraud-related activities. Items recovered from the suspects include two hundred and seventy-three (273) assorted laptops, ninety-seven (97) assorted smartphones, one (1) iPad, one (1) table phone, nine (9) laptop chargers, and two (2) Wi-Fi routers. Investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST AND RECOVERY OF ONE BERETTA PISTOL: On 30th of July 2025 at about 0630 hrs, operatives of the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS), while acting on information, stormed a criminal hideoutat Big Gate Campus 3, Abraka, where Benjamin Okwufulueze (m)’ aged 21 yrs, Augustine Ifeanyi (m)’ aged 22 yrs, and Iruma Japheth (m)’ aged 27 yrs, were arrested, and one fabricated Beretta pistol with four live ammunition was recovered. Also recovered are one black cap with an Eiye inscription and one battle axe.

ARREST OF A SELF-KIDNAPPER AND ACCOMPLICES; On 21st July 2025 at about 2030 hrs, the command received a report of a suspected kidnapping incident involving a female victim around Bonsaac, Asaba. Acting promptly on the report, I directed Commander Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad to ensure that the victim is rescued unhurt. Acting on this directive, the command led operatives and launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation. On 22 July 2025 at about 0900 hrs, the operatives arrested one Alfred Elisha ‘m’ at Koka Roundabout and Ugochukwu Adim ‘m’, off DLA Road, Asaba. Upon arrest of the suspects, they confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnap but was plotted between the victim and them.

Their revelation led to the arrest of the main suspect, Merit Eneh, aged 27 years old. She confessed that of the money loaned to her by her brother, about three million six hundred thousand naira (₦3,600,000), she used it to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding, which took place in the month of March 2025. She further stated that she faked her own kidnap and received a ransom of three million naira (₦3,000,000) and gave her accomplices five hundred thousand naira (₦500,000), and she took two million, five hundred thousand naira (₦2,500,000) for herself. All suspects involved have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS/RECOVERY OF FIVE MILLION NAIRA (#5,000,000) RANSOM: On 12th July 2025 at about 0630 hrs, operatives of the Special Anti-kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad trailed some suspected kidnappers terrorising the state to their hideout in Ogwashi-Ukwu in Oshimili North LGA of Delta State, where a suspected kidnapper named Sanusi Abdulahi was arrested in possession of a ransom of five million naira (₦5,000,000), which was part of the ransom they collected from their last victim. Preliminary investigation revealed that they are allegedly responsible for a series of kidnappings at Ibusa, Ogwash-Uku, Obulu-Okiti, Isele-Uku, Isele-Asagba and most recently the kidnapping of a young lady at Ogwash-Uku on the 9th July 2025. The suspect led the operatives to their hideout at Second Deputy, where four other members of his gang were also arrested.

DEATH OF SIX SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, RECOVERY OF FOUR CUT-TO-SIZE GUNS AND CARTRIDGES: On the 9th of July, 2025, at about 0835 hrs, along the Patani-Ughelli Motorway, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment team in a sting operation raided the hideout of one Solomon Danisco, aka “Picolo”; Nelson Jacob; Oruma Saturday; Olise Jude; Precious Urhobowin; and Whisky Rufus, aka “Asawana”, a native of the Ewu community. During the operation, the heavily armed suspects engaged the operatives in a fierce gun duel, during which the suspects and their gang members sustained serious gunshot injuries. They were taken to the hospital, where six of them were confirmed dead, while two others are still receiving treatment. The exhibit recovered includes four (4) locally made guns and nineteen (19) live rounds of cartridges.

ARREST OF A SUSPECTED CULTIST, RECOVERY OF ONE LOCALLY MADE GUN: On the 20th of July 2025 at about 1927 hours, the patrol team attached to the Jesse division while on stop and search duty along Uyo Street, Jesse town, Delta State, intercepted a young man with a bag. Upon searching the suspect, one locally made pistol loaded with one cartridge was recovered. The suspect, Tega Ibrahim ‘m’, aged 20 years, was immediately arrested and taken into custody. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is the second in command of the Eiye confraternity. The investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF A FEMALE SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER AND RECOVERY OF ILLICIT DRUGS: On the 23rd of July 2025, at about 1030 hours, operatives of the anti-crime patrol of the Jesse division, while on a confidence-building patrol, intercepted a motorcycle rider conveying a female passenger. They were subjected to a search during which illicit drugs, which include tramadol, Swinol, and codeine, were recovered from the female suspect, identified as Maureen Odiri, aged 47 years, who was arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS AND RECOVERY OF SIX CUT-TO-SIZE GUNS: On 31/07/2025 at about 0830 hrs, the DPO of the Ogwashi-Uku division received information of an imminent attack on students writing their final year exams at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Ukwu, by suspected cultists. Operatives were deployed, and two suspects, namely Favour Osafile ‘m’, 23 years old, and Ifeainachi Emmanuel ‘m’, 23 years old, were arrested with two handbags containing six cut-to-size guns and eight rounds of live cartridges. Upon interrogation suspects confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity. Investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF SUSPECTED FEMALE DRUG DEALER AND RECOVERY OF ILLICIT DRUGS: On 30/07/2025 at about 1530 hrs, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team, while acting on credible intelligence, embarked on a sting operation and raided a hideout situated at Afisere town in Ughelli North LGA of Delta State. Upon thorough search, different types of illicit drugs, which include Tramadol, Codeine, Swinol and Cannabis, were recovered in large quantities. The following suspects were arrested: Mrs Doris Okoroko, aged 55 years; Gladys Otah, aged 46 years; and Anita Samuel, aged 23 years.

SUMMARY

1. Number of firearms recovered – 18

2. Number of ammunition and cartridges recovered – 359

3. Ransom recovered – #8,500,000

4. Laptops and mobile phones recovered – 378

Total number of suspects arrested – 211

Deltans are urged to report any suspicious persons or movement within the environment, either by reporting at the nearest police station or by calling any of the following control room numbers.

– 08036684974

– 08114895600

– 08025666914

The command urges Deltans to report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or call the provided control room numbers.

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