The Delta State Police Command has successfully foiled a suspected kidnapping plot and recovered a cache of weapons, further demonstrating its commitment to curbing crime in the state. The breakthrough came on August 13, 2024, during the graduation ceremony at Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, where a planned kidnapping of attendees was uncovered.
According to a press release from the Command, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Oghara Division, CSP Olasunkanmi Musiliu, acted on credible intelligence that a group of suspected kidnappers had intended to abduct guests at the ceremony. In a swift and coordinated operation, the DPO led his team to the suspects’ hideout in a bush along Otefe/Ovade Legit Road.
Upon sighting the approaching police officers, the suspects fled, sustaining various degrees of gunshot injuries during an exchange of fire. Despite their escape, the police recovered significant weaponry, including one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, one English pump-action gun, and one locally made cut-to-size gun. A manhunt for the fleeing suspects is currently underway.
In a separate incident on August 14, 2024, the Command’s anti-crime patrol team arrested two suspected cultists during a stop-and-search operation along Otefe Ijomi Community Road. The suspects, identified as Ovoke Benedict, 22, a computer science student, and Fredrick Urhoborume, 23, a business administration student—both from Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara—were found in possession of a locally made cut-to-size gun and six live cartridges. Preliminary investigations suggest that the duo are members of the Arrow Barger Confraternity, and further inquiries are ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, praised the swift actions of the officers involved and reiterated the importance of community cooperation in the fight against crime. He urged the public to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, emphasizing that such collaboration is vital to maintaining safety and security in the state.
The Commissioner also reminded the public that they can reach the Delta State Police Command through the following control room numbers for assistance:
– 08036684974
– 08114895600
– 08025666914
SP Edafe Bright, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, assured residents of the Command’s ongoing commitment to proactive policing and community engagement as they work to keep Delta State safe.