CRIME: DELTA STATE POLICE NEUTRALIZE TWO CRIMINAL ELEMENTS. .... Says Police Determined To Reduce Crime And Criminality In The Entire State

The Delta state Police Command Headquarters in Asaba, the state capital under the leadership of the indefatigable Commissioner of police, Mr. Ari Ali Mohammed, has continue to take the battle to the criminals thereby, scoring huge gains in its concerted effort to rid the state of crime and criminality.

A statement from the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe reveals that operatives of ‘B’ Division Warri Patrol Team, while on night surveillance patrol duty along Okumagba Estate roundabout in Warri South LGA, on 24/12/2022 at about 2300hours, intercepted a tricycle with two male occupants and subjected them to a search. 

During the search, three live cartridges concealed under the seat of the tricycle were recovered. The suspects were taken into custody. 

Upon interrogation, suspects confessed to be members of a five man kidnapping syndicate operating around Warri and its environs. Acting on their confessions, 

on 25/12/2022, the suspects led Police operatives to their hideout at a house located along Upper Erejuwa Street, where one (1) AK49 rifle with breach no. 11876, one (1) locally made double barrel long gun, two (2) machetes were recovered. 

On their way back to the Police Station, the two suspects jumped out of the moving Police Hilux vehicle in an attempt to escape, but the Policemen gave them a hot chase. In a bid to demobilize them, they were maimed by the operatives, and rearrested. The suspects gave up the ghost while they were being taken to the hospital. 

Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.

In a related development, a kidnap victim was reportedly rescued by operatives of the Agbarho Police Division, following a deployment of officers by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO.

According to the report by the PPRO Delta State Police Command Headquarters in Asaba, DSP Bright Edafe, "On 28/12/2022  at about 2215hrs, acting on a tip-off that a victim (name withheld) was kidnapped at Ugborikoko, and  the kidnappers were heading toward Agbarho with the victim's car. 

"The DPO Agbarho Division deployed operatives to the Warri-Ughelli express-way to carry out intensive stop and search with a view to rescuing the victim and arrest of the suspects. While the Police were carrying out this task painstakingly, they intercepted a Mercedez GLK SUV (registration number withheld) that matches the description of the victim’s vehicle. 

"The suspect Oghenetega Ovwa ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Ugborikoko, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested and upon searching the vehicle, one pump action gun with six (6) rounds of cartridges were recovered. 

"During the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang that earlier kidnapped the owner of the GLK. He led the team to their hideout at Ugborikoko in Warri South LGA,  on arrival at the hideout,  his gang members engaged the Police in a gun duel, the suspect was hit during the heavy gun duel, while other members of the gang escaped. 

"The victim was rescued unhurt and reunited with his family. 

"The suspect, who sustained serious gunshot injuries during the gun duel, was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing." The statement concluded.