Police rescue policeman’s kidnapped 7-yr-old girl, woman in Delta

•Nab 48 male, female suspected cult members

OPERATIVES of the Delta State Police Command have rescued two victims from their kidnappers at various locations in Delta State.

The victims, wife of one Mr Joseph Otemowo, an engineer, and seven-year-old Gift James who is a daughter of a policeman, were abducted at separate locations in the state.

Mrs Otemowo, according to the police, was kidnapped at the early hours of Monday, July 11, by four hoodlums who invaded her house at Ogini Road, Oghara, and whisked her away in her Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle with registration number GRA 911 KH.

It was gathered that police operatives, assisted by local vigilance group members, trailed the abductors to their hideout at Ologbo bush after they demanded ransom. An exchange of fire between the hoodlums and policemen ensued and one of the suspects, God’stime, was shot and arrested while the other three escaped.

The victim was eventually rescued unhurt while the injured suspect died on the way to the hospital for medical attention.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, a Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the two incidents, said that a locally-made pistol, a cartridge and a mobile phone were recovered from the dead suspect while investigations were ongoing to nab the other fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, the seven-year-old victim, Gift James, disclosed to Crime Reports that she was kidnapped at Onicha-Olona in the morning of July 4 when she was running an errand.

Her abductors were said to have operated in a black Nissan X-Terra SUV with registration number DDT 012 02 and were headed to Issele-Azagba when police patrol team on Benin/Asaba road, acting on a tip-off, pursued the suspects. But they reportedly fled into a nearby bush, abandoning their vehicle and the victim at a feeder road.

Also, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)  arrested 48 male and female youths suspected to be cult members at a location in Warri, Delta State.

The suspects, 36 males and 12 females, were said to be members of the Neo Black Movement (Black Axe) and were rounded up at night on July 7 during an alleged ongoing initiation and anniversary ceremonies.

Crime Reports gathered that they were rounded up around a hotel (names withheld) at Okuokoko in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.