In a significant victory against crime, the Delta State Police Command has successfully engaged and apprehended a notorious kidnapping gang in Ughelli. This operation resulted in the death of one suspect, the arrest of three others, and the recovery of an AK-49 rifle.

Upon his appointment as the 22nd Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Abaniwona Olufemi prioritized addressing the rampant kidnapping incidents in the Ughelli area. In response, he revamped the security strategy and deployed a new Divisional Police Officer to Ughelli Division. Furthermore, a special operations team led by ASP Julius Robinson was tasked with eliminating kidnappers in the region.

This proactive approach has yielded significant results. On July 1, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, the special team, acting on credible intelligence and technical analysis related to the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a male victim (name withheld) on May 17, 2024, in Adjakota, Ughelli South LGA, Delta State, arrested one Ismaila Umaru, 28, of Kekura Village in Awe LGA, Nasarawa State, who resides in Oghara town by Power Line, Delta State.

Subsequently, on July 4, 2024, at about 8:30 PM, Umaru led the operatives to arrest two additional gang members: Chede Mohammed, 18, a native of Nasarawa State residing in Agwara, Ughelli South LGA, Delta State, and Mohammadu Sani, 26, a native of Banbiru, Abuja, residing in Upper Agbarho, Ughelli North.

On July 5, 2024, at approximately 5:30 AM, the operatives, acting on the suspects’ confessions, stormed a hideout in the bush by Oviri-ogor. During the operation, the team encountered an attack from other gang members. One suspect sustained serious gunshot injuries and later died in the hospital while receiving treatment. An AK-49 rifle was recovered from the hideout, and investigations are ongoing.