The Delta State Police Command has recorded a breakthrough in the investigation of a kidnapping incident that occurred on February 1, 2026, with the arrest of five suspected kidnappers and the rescue of victims.
Guns and live ammunition were also recovered from the suspects, according to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, and made available to journalists in Warri on Friday.
The statement recalled that the incident occurred at about 8pm along the Warri–Sapele Road near Adeje Community, where a group of travellers was ambushed and abducted by armed hoodlums.
Edafe said the case was reported on February 4, 2026, at about 5pm after two of the victims escaped and raised the alarm.
The statement read in part, “The assailants, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, forcefully took the victims into the bush.
“Two of the victims managed to escape and promptly raised an alarm, triggering a coordinated response involving the Police, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilantes.
“Sustained pressure from the joint security team forced the kidnappers to abandon the remaining victims, who were subsequently rescued unhurt.”
He added that operatives of the Orerokpe Division, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Dafiaga Timothy on February 4 while attempting to withdraw money using one of the victim’s ATM cards at a POS point in Adeje community.
“The DPO Orerokpe Division was directed to transfer the case to CP-Special Assignment Team for discreet and further investigation,” the statement added.
Further investigations led to the arrest of additional suspects.
“Following sustained interrogation and technically generated intelligence, on March 31, 2026 at about 1600hrs, operatives arrested additional members of the syndicate, including Samuel Omonigho (31), in Kokori Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, and Henry Christmas (22), in Adeje Community, Okpe Local Government Area.
“Further breakthroughs were recorded on April 5, 2026 at about 1445hrs, when operatives arrested two more members of the syndicate, namely Ovo Wilson Junior, also known as ‘Sheboy’ (24), in Mereje Community, Okpe Local Government Area, and Emakpo Ubiaro Abel (36), in Ughwagba Community, Okpe Local Government Area.
“Investigation revealed that Emakpo Ubiaro Abel is a tricycle rider who conveys the gang members to and from their operational locations,” he said.
Edafe added that a follow-up operation on April 13 led to the recovery of weapons from a hideout.
“On April 13, 2026 at about 0535hrs, operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team, acting on information obtained during interrogation, carried out a follow-up operation at a hideout located at Oka Junction, Agbarho, and a thorough search led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of live ammunition and one locally made gun with seven live cartridges,” he added.
According to the command, the syndicate has been linked to a series of kidnapping and armed robbery incidents across Warri, Sapele, Agbarho, Ughelli, and neighbouring communities.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the synergy between security agencies and the vigilance of community members which contributed to the success of the operations.
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