The Delta State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police (CP) Olufemi Abaniwonda, has achieved significant breakthroughs in its fight against kidnapping and armed robbery in key areas of the state, including Ughelli, Warri, and Sapele. During a press briefing on October 9, 2024, the CP outlined major successes of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), which has been instrumental in dismantling criminal networks and restoring security across the region.
CP Abaniwonda, who took office as the 22nd Commissioner of Police for Delta State on February 1, 2024, faced an escalating wave of violent crime in these areas. Determined to reverse this trend, he deployed a special team, led by ASP Julius Robinson, with a clear directive to collaborate with local Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and ensure the safety of residents.
One of the most significant operations carried out by the CP-SAT was the arrest of four suspected kidnappers in Sapele on September 12, 2024. These individuals, all members of the notorious Vikings Confraternity, were linked to a series of kidnappings and armed robberies along the Sapele-Warri Road. During the sting operation, the police recovered an AK-47 rifle and a Toyota Sienna, which the suspects used for their criminal activities. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details about their operations.
In another major success, on September 18, 2024, the police team raided a kidnappers’ hideout in the Ogor forest. A fierce gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of two suspects, while one managed to escape. The team recovered a pump-action shotgun, a locally made cut-to-size gun, and several rounds of live ammunition. The search for the remaining members of the gang continues.
The command also made headway in cracking down on a suspect involved in both fraud and kidnapping. On October 7, 2024, after the arrest of Timothy Ochuko, operatives discovered that he was part of a kidnapping syndicate. Ochuko had been implicated in the abduction of a woman in Ughelli on September 25, 2024. He and his gang had forcefully withdrawn ₦1.1 million from the victim’s bank account before releasing her. The police recovered ₦500,000 from Ochuko’s account, part of the ransom, and seized an English-made Beretta pistol.
In a related development, a notorious kidnapper and armed robber, Oghenetega, was apprehended in Sapele on September 17, 2024. The CP-SAT operatives recovered an array of weapons from his residence, including an AK-47 rifle, a G3 rifle, and a fabricated long gun. Oghenetega is believed to be responsible for several high-profile kidnappings and robberies in the area.
On September 25, 2024, the CP-SAT team made a crucial arrest in Mosogar town, Ethiope West Local Government Area. They captured Ojoko Ijoyoto, alias Pikolo, who had been on the police watchlist for over three years. Ijoyoto was involved in the murder of a policeman and the vice youth chairman of Mosogar town. During the raid, the police recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with six rounds of ammunition.
The team also arrested another notorious cultist and armed robbery suspect, Tunde Akingbenomo, on October 5, 2024. Akingbenomo, a member of the Viking Confraternity, was taken into custody at his residence in Ogharaefe, Ethiope East Local Government Area, where the police recovered a locally made gun and two fabricated Beretta pistols.
In total, the Delta State Police Command has recovered seven AK-47 rifles, one AK-49, one G3 rifle, six pump-action shotguns, nine light machine guns, sixteen Beretta pistols, and over fifty rounds of ammunition. The team also rescued three kidnapped victims and recovered ₦5.5 million in ransom payments.
Commissioner Abaniwonda praised the efforts of his officers and reaffirmed the Delta State Police Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order. He assured the public that investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected in the coming days as the command continues its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.