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Following the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023  in Ughellli town, and a ransom of one million naira paid before their release, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass directed the Command Decoy squad to embark on an intelligence-led investigation and ensure that the kidnappers were arrested and brought to book.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Office (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe said that in compliance with the CP’s directive,  on 11/05/2023, at about 23.15hrs, operatives of the command Decoy squad led by the commander, Asp Julius Robinson acting on credible intelligence gathered, embarked on a sting operation and arrested one Emmanuel James ‘m’ aged 32yrs  of Otor-Udu,  Ughelli South LGA, who is suspected to be the leader of the gang. On 12/05/2023, at about 02.30hrs, the suspect led the operatives to Ejewu community, Udu LGA  and arrested the syndicate driver, one Ejiro Peter ‘m’ aged 25yrs, a native of Kokori community in Ethiope East LGA. They confessed to their involvement in series of armed robbery, kidnapping operations  in Ughelli and Warri, which included the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023, at Ughellli town  and  a ransom of one million naira paid  before the couple was released.

On 12/05/2023, the suspects led the operatives to another notorious member of their criminal gang whose real name is unknown but fondly called  “oh lord”  at Egbike area in Udu. The suspect, upon sighting the police, engaged them in a gun duel and escaped through the ceiling of his apartment with bullet injuries. When his apartment was searched, a bag containing a locally fabricated pistol and three (03) rounds of 7.62 AK47 live ammunition were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.

On 05/05/2023, at about 1730hrs, operatives of the Command State Anti Cult Unit (SACU), while on a joint operation  with Dragon patrol, safer highway, raiders squad, RRS at Afisere /Ughelli, they arrested the duo of Tega Precious’ m’ aged 28 yrs and Ebi Marvelloveous ‘m’ aged 27 yrs, one revolver pistol two live ammunition were recovered from them. Suspects confessed to being members of Neo black movement (NBM) cult group. The suspects led the operatives to their hideout, where two pump action guns, two double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, and sixteen live cartridges, were recovered. Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.

The Command recorded another success on 12/5/2023 in Agbarho  when operatives of Agbarho Police station were on stop and search duty when they sighted a red GLK Mercedes Benz and flagged down the vehicle, the  suspect on sighting the Police quickly alighted from the Benz GLK 350 with reg. number WWR 441 MD and escaped into the bush. The vehicle was recovered to the station and searched during which, a phone number which turned out to be the phone number of owner of the vehicle was seen, and when he was contacted, he confirmed that the car was stolen from him at gun point on 11/5/2023.

Similarly, on 11/5/2023 at about 1300 hours, operatives of Dragon 19 and 20, while on stop and search duty along Ughelli-Patani expressway, flagged down a Toyota Camry with reg. no. ABC 810 DK, the suspect jumped out from the vehicle and escaped into the bush. The vehicle was recovered, and investigations so far revealed that it was snatched at gun point on 10/5/2023 in Sapele. Manhunt for the suspects is ongoing.

DSP Edafe said that CP Abass reiterated the Command’s commitment to an effective, intelligence driven, and community based policing to ensure that Deltans sleep with two eyes closed, even as he assured residents that the command will work round the clock to ensure that anyone terrorizing the state will be arrested and brought to justice.