The Delta State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers and members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate, recovering AK-47 rifles and stolen vehicles in separate operations.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Asaba.
He said the police received a distress call after a young man was kidnapped from his residence in Ogwashi-Uku and taken into the bush.
According to him, the suspects collected a ransom of N2 million from the victim’s family but still shot him in the leg for allegedly not paying more.
Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, directed the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Squad, led by CSP Godwin Osadolor, to track down the suspects. The victim was later rescued with a gunshot injury.
“Following an intelligence-led investigation, operatives arrested two suspects, Chukwuebuka Nka and Uche Okechukwu, in Anambra State. A white Venza SUV belonging to the victim was also recovered,” he said.
The suspects’ confession, he added, led to the arrest of an 18-year-old accomplice, Somto Chukwuma, at Agidiase village in Ogwashi-Uku. A Toyota Matrix car and a network jammer device were also recovered.
In a separate operation, Edafe said the command dismantled an armed robbery syndicate operating in Ekpan area of the state.
Acting on intelligence, operatives led by CSP Labe Joseph, the Divisional Police Officer of Ekpan, arrested two suspects, Elvis Ebroghro, 36, and Abiola Adegore, 34.
“Preliminary investigations showed that on September 11, a security guard, Abdullahi Mohammed, spotted the suspects attempting to steal a car battery. They allegedly threatened to kill him if he reported the incident,” he said.
He added that further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Lucky Ebroghro. One AK-47 rifle hidden inside an abandoned building in Ometan community was also recovered.