Police arrest 3 notorious kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists in Delta operating from Kaduna, Cameroon

The Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected notorious kidnappers, suspected armed robbers, and cultists in the state. The Police also recovered two automatic pump action guns, locally made revolver gun, one locally made cut-to-size double barrel gun and cartridges.

CP Abaniwonda Olufemi

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, SP. Edafe Bright, in a statement in Asaba, indicated @DeltaPoliceNG that intelligence gathered on some kidnapping incidents in the Warri axis revealed that it is being carried out by one suspect, identified as Yakubu Ya’u, a 20-year old suspect who resides in Kaduna, but always comes to Oha and Ughwagba Communities in Okpe Local Government Area, to kidnap unsuspecting residents for ransom.

The PPRO narrated that on 11/05/24 at about 1743hrs, following combined effort from police operatives of the command and operatives from the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja, on the hideout of the suspect, the DPO Orerokpe, CSP Paul Oboware, immediately mobilized and led his patrol teams to his hideout in Warri, and after a painstaking search of the entire area, the said Yakubu Ya’u was arrested.

An arrested kidnapper/armed robber displaying his weapon

Preliminary investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other key gang members: one Musa Yakubu ‘m’ age 25 years, from Kogi State; and one Abdulahi Mohammed ‘m’ age 38 years, from Cameroon on 12/05/24 at about 1049hrs.

The suspects, the PPRO said, are allegedly responsible for several kidnapping incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele, Warri, and environs.

The PPRO stated that the victims have equally identified the suspects.
The suspected kidnappers led the detectives of the Orerokpe Division to Ughwagba Community in Okpe LGA, where Two Automatic Pump Action Guns, One Live Cartridge,and one knife were hidden and buried in the bush were recovered.
Preliminary investigations are still ongoing, and efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gangs are on top gear.

The PPRO further narrated that on 10/5/24 at about 1500hrs, while acting on a report made at Ozoro division, a report was made at the Ozoro Division, police operatives arrested one Michael Udo (m) aged 20yrs, during investigation, a search warrant was executed in his premises where a Locally Made Revolver Gun and Two live Cartridges were recovered in his house. Investigation is ongoing.

Also, on 14/5/2024 at 0300hr, the DPO Obiaruku Division received a report from a distress caller, that he was being bullied and forced into a cult initiation. On the strength of the complaint, the DPO Obiaruku mobilized police operatives and arrested the suspect identified as Chinedu Okolo ‘m’ aged 31yrs of Ezhionum Community. One Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol and the handset forcefully taken from the victim were recovered from them.

Efforts are in progress to apprehend other fleeing suspects, the PPRO said.

CP Abaniwonda Olufemi has cautioned youths to shun all forms of criminality, cultism, and abuse of drugs.

He reassured the public that the police would do due diligence in the relentless pursuit of those who seek to disrupt the collective peace of the state.