Police foil kidnap attempt, arrest two cult suspects in Delta

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have thwarted a kidnapping attempt, arrested two suspected cultists, and recovered a range of weapons.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Bright Edafe reported that these achievements are part of efforts led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Olufemi Abaniwonda to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other related crimes in the state.

Detailing how the command’s operatives thwarted the kidnapping attempt, Edafe said, “On August 13, 2024, while students of Delta State Polytechnic Oghara were attending their graduation ceremony, the DPO of Oghara Division received credible information that suspected kidnappers were planning to abduct guests at the event.”

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He continued, “The DPO of Oghara Division, CSP Olasunkanmi Musiliu, acted swiftly upon this information, mobilizing and leading operatives to a hideout in a bush along Otefe/Ovade Legit Road.

Upon sighting the police, the suspected kidnappers fled, sustaining various degrees of gunshot injuries from a shootout with the police.

We recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, one English pump-action gun, and one locally made cut-to-size gun.”

In relation to the arrest of suspected cultists, Edafe noted, “On August 14, 2024, around 7:59 p.m., a police anti-crime patrol team from Oghara Division, while conducting a stop-and-search operation on Otefe Ijomi Community Road, stopped a motorcycle carrying Ovoke Benedict, 22, from Ughelli North LGA and a Computer Science student at Delta State Polytechnic Otefe, Oghara, and Fredrick Urhoborume, 23, also from Ughelli North LGA and a Business Administration student at the same institution.”

He continued, “During the search, officers recovered a locally made cut-to-size gun with six live cartridges. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are believed to be members of the Arrow Barger Confraternity, and the investigation is ongoing.”

SP Edafe relayed CP Abaniwonda’s appreciation to the people of Delta State and encouraged them to provide useful, credible, and timely information to support the fight against crime.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE