Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I welcome you once again to this press briefing, where I will be briefing you on more achievements recorded by the command within the period under review.
You will recall that during my last briefing, I intimated the public on deployment made in the metropolis to checkmate the activities of kidnappers and you will observe that the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers have dropped astronomically.
As you are aware, we are now in the ember months and the command is aware of the likely upsurge in crime within these periods, hence an Operations order has been issued to all Area commanders, DPOS, and Tactical commanders.
There will be increased visibility policing, raiding of black spots and criminal hideouts across the twenty-five local government areas in the state.
I also wish to encourage members of the public to trust and always report incidents to the Police as this goes a long way in fighting and checking the activities of criminals.
1. RECOVERY OF THREE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE GUNS, ONE PUMP ACTION GUN, AND THREE LIVE CARTRIDGES: On 4/9/2024, Police undercover surveillance team attached to ‘B’ division Asaba while on undercover patrol duties along Okwe road, Oko Market Asaba, they sighted a Toyota Avalon with Reg. number JJT 253 AJ. On sighting the Police, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and took to their heels. Upon search of the vehicle, three locally made cut-to-size guns, one pump action gun, and three live cartridges were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.
2. RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED VICTIMS: On 31/08/2024, at about 0250hours, acting on credible information relating to a kidnapping incident of two persons kidnapped on 30th August 2024 along Asaba-Benin Expressway, I directed the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cybercrime squad to ensure that the victims are rescued and the suspects arrested. The Commander anti-kidnaping squad led policemen in a sting operation to Umunede forest area where the victims were being held hostage. The suspected kidnappers on noticing that the Police were closing in on them abandoned the victims and escaped. They were rescued and have been reunited with their families. One Dane gun and ten rounds of live cartridges were recovered. Efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are ongoing.
3. FOILED SUSPECTED KIDNAP, RECOVERY OF ONE AK-47 RIFLE, ONE ENGLISH PUMP ACTION GUN, ONE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE GUN AND CARTRIDGES: On 13TH August 2024, while students of Delta State Polytechnic Oghara were having their graduation ceremony, the command received credible information that some suspected kidnappers had perfected plans to kidnap guests who would be attending the ceremony. I directed the DPO Oghara to intensify effort and ensure that these suspects are arrested and their intentions foiled. The DPO led operatives of Oghara division to their hideout in a bush along Otefe/ Ovade Legit Road where the suspected kidnappers on sighting the Police took to their heels and escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries. One AK-47 Rifle, one magazine, one English pump action gun, and one locally made cut-to-size gun were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
4. ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, AND RECOVERY OF TWO MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND NAIRA (#2,344,000) RANSOM: Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of Ebrumede division while on patrol duty intercepted a tricycle conveying six-passengers. The suspects on sighting the Police attempted to escape but the operatives chased and arrested them. Upon search of the suspects, two million, three hundred and forty-four naira was recovered. Some suspected stolen phones were also recovered. Further investigation revealed that the phone belonged to their kidnapped victims and the money was part of the ransom the victims paid for their freedom.
5. DEATH OF A SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER, RECOVERY OF TWO PUMP ACTION GUNS, AND ONE BERETTA PISTOL: On 12/8/2024 at about 0430hrs operatives of CP Special Squad with while on investigation alongside a suspected kidnapper Joel Ochuko Ofoye ‘m’ who was earlier arrested on 18/7/2024, the suspect led the operatives to Ewu community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State on the trail of a gun runner who supply arms to them. While they were on his trail, the team came under attack by the suspect’s gang members in a bid to free the said Joel Ochuko. The Police overpowered the hoodlums as they fled with bullet injuries, the suspect Joel Ochuko Ofoye was hit during the gun duel, and he was taken to General Hospital Ughelli where he died while receiving treatment. One Beretta Pistol with four (4) rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine (9) rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action was recovered and a manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
6. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS AND RECOVERY OF ONE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE GUN WITH SIX (6) LIVES CARTRIDGE: On 14th of August 2024 at about 1945hrs, the Police Anti-Crime patrol team of Oghara Division while on stop and search duty along Otefe Ijomi Community Road, they intercepted a motorcycle carrying one Ovoke Benedict aged 22yrs ‘m’ and one Fredrick Urhoborume “m” aged 23yrs. The Policemen subjected them to a search during which one locally made cut-to-size gun with six (6) live cartridges was recovered from them. Preliminary investigation revealed that they are suspected to be members of the Arrow Barger Confraternity. Investigation is ongoing.
7. ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, RECOVERY OF ONE BARETTA PISTOL: Sequel to a case of kidnap of a 29yrs victim (name withheld) of Kokori Community in Ethiope East LGA Delta State but resident in Sapele Town who was kidnapped on 17/2/2024 at his residence by five (5) armed kidnapping syndicate, and Five Million Naira (#5, 000,000) was transferred from his account to an unknown bank account by the hoodlums. The victim, after regaining his freedom, reported to the command, and I directed the CP’s special squad to investigate and ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to book. The operatives acting on available information provided by the kidnapped victim embarked on a technically driven investigation, stormed Sapele town on 11/08/2024 at about 0430hrs and raided the apartment of one Sapiro, real name unknown and upon search a Beretta Pistol was recovered in his room, his gang members Tony Binitie ‘m’ 29 yrs aka “BOBO”, Ejiro Ewuba ‘m’ 30yrs, and Ayuba Hussaini ‘m’ 38yrs were arrested. The suspects confessed to the act meanwhile efforts to arrest other gang members is ongoing.
8. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS, RECOVERY OF THREE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE GUNS, BATTLE AXES, AND CARTRIDGES: On 05/08/2024 at about 1100hrs a complaint was received by Ofuoma division that on the same date, at about 0900hrs some suspected cultists were shooting at Ogbovwan Community, the DPO Ofuoma division upon receipt of this complaint led patrol teams to the scene. The suspects upon sighting the police took to their heels in different directions, the operatives went after them and arrested five suspects all suspected to be members of black axe confraternity. Three locally-made cut-to-size guns, one battle axe, twelve (12) live cartridges, seven expended cartridges, eight phones, and two cross bags were recovered. Efforts to arrest the other fleeing suspects are ongoing.
9. RECOVERY OF TWO AK-47 RIFLES, THREE MAGAZINES, AND FIFTY-EIGHT (58) ROUNDS OF 7.62MM AMMUNITION: On 28th July 2024, operatives of Dragon Patrol while on stop and search duty along Asaba-Kwale Road intercepted a Sienna vehicle with Reg. no. BDG 385 EC, the driver on sighting the Police fled into the bush and escaped. Upon search of the vehicle, two (2) AK-47 Rifles, three magazines, and fifty-eight rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
10. DEATH OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER, RECOVERY OF TWO PUMP ACTION GUNS, AND SIXTEEN (16) ROUNDS OF LIVE CARTRIDGES: Acting on credible information, the CP’s Special team deployed to Ughelli North LGA led by ASP Julius Robinson, on 25th July 2024 stormed Oviri-Ogor forest in search of a suspected kidnapper. During the operation, a gun duel ensued between the gang of kidnappers and the police operatives during which one of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped with gunshot injuries. The injured suspect later died in the hospital while receiving treatment. Two pump action guns and sixteen rounds of live cartridges were recovered. Efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are ongoing.
11. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS, RECOVERY OF ONE BERETTA PISTOL, TWO ENGLISH REVOLVER PISTOL, SIX LOCALLY MADE GUNS, AND AMMUNITIONS: On 26th July 2024, at about 0130 hours, the DPO Ekpan police station acting on intelligence stormed Kano Road, off DSC, and arrested one Akeni College and upon search of his house, one Beretta pistol, two revolver pistols, six locally made guns and cartridges were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.
12. RECOVERY OF ONE AK-47 RIFLE, AND TWENTY-NINE ROUNDS OF 7.62MM AMMUNITION: On 25th July 2024, operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad while on stop and search duty around Koka in Asaba, they sighted a young man with a bag pretending to be waiting for a vehicle, upon approaching him, the suspect abandoned the bag and escaped and when the bag was searched, one AK-47 Rifle, and twenty-nine rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
13. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS, RECOVERY OF TWO PUMP ACTION GUNS: On 25th July 2024, at about 1830hours, operatives of the command’s Rapid Response squad while on stop and search duty along Kwale road, intercepted a Lexus 350 SUV, and upon search of the vehicle, two brand new pump action guns were recovered. Four suspects namely; Savage Roland ‘m’ aged 26 yrs from Afiesere, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, Clever Imonukore ‘m’ aged 29yrs, Isaac Umukoro ‘m’ aged 49yrs, and Louis Opone ‘m’ aged 40yrs were arrested and investigation is ongoing.
14. ARREST OF A SUSPECTED ILLICIT DRUG DEALER, RECOVERY OF ILLICIT DRUGS: On 25th July 2024, at about 2000hours, operatives of the command Dragon Patrol while on stop and search duty along Asaba-Agbor expressway intercepted one Jammed Abdulahi Shola ‘m’ aged aged 39yrs, driving a green Toyota vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, three hundred and twenty packs of codeine, one hundred and twenty-five sachets of tramadol, and other hard drugs in large quantities were recovered from him. Investigation is ongoing.
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS FROM JULY 25TH TO DATE:
AK-47 RIFLES RECOVERED – 4
AMMUNITION/CARTRIDGES RECOVERED -138
PUMP ACTION GUNS RECOVERED – 8
CUT-TO-SIZE GUNS- 15
BARETTA PISTOL – 5
Thank you all
CP ABANIWONDA S. OLUFEMI
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
DELTA STATE COMMAND
ASABA.
