… Recover #4m ransom
The Delta State Police Command has arrested eight suspected kidnappers and recovered N4 million in ransom money from them, in a major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against abductions in the region.
Parading the suspects before journalists at the command headquarters in Asaba on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, stated that the force is deploying every available resources to curb the menace of kidnapping and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for disturbing the peace across Delta State.
He explained, “Our approach is grounded in proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and the regular raiding of criminal hideouts.
Providing a breakdown of recent operations, CP Olufemi said, “On May 12, 2025, officers attached to the Dragon Patrol Team, while conducting a routine stop-and-search along the Kwale/Ozoro expressway, intercepted a gold-coloured Toyota Sienna bus transporting passengers from Ughelli to Asaba.
“Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered N3.1 million in the possession of four suspects: Abubakar Alwalu (25), Usman Husseini (25), Adamu Mohammed (30), and Anwalu Umaru (23).
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the four men are members of a five-man gang responsible for the abduction of a woman in Ughelli.
“The victim, who was held captive in her home for four days, positively identified the suspects. A ransom of #4 million had been collected. Investigations are ongoing,” he added.
In another operation carried out on May 10, 2025, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence, tracked down and arrested one Abdullahi Ibrahim (22), a suspected kidnapper and gang leader from the Ekenwan community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. He was apprehended in Ore town, Ondo State.
Ibrahim subsequently led the team to arrest an accomplice, Adamu Usman (24), also hiding in Ore. During interrogation, the suspects guided officers to a forest along the Ore-Lagos expressway near a location known as “Stepdown”, where police recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with 14 rounds of live ammunition and a locally made long gun loaded with six cartridges.
Both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
CP Olufemi also disclosed that another suspect was apprehended and more ransom money retrieved during a separate incident in Ibusa.
“Also on May 12, 2025, following intelligence concerning a kidnap incident in Itego community, Ibusa—where a man (name withheld) was kidnapped and an undisclosed ransom paid, the Commander of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad swiftly mobilised his men and intercepted one of the suspects at Koka Junction in Asaba.
“The suspect, identified as Lawal Tasiu (26), a resident of the Federal Capital Territory, was arrested after a hot pursuit,” he said.
“Upon searching him, officers recovered N900,000 in cash. During interrogation, Tasiu confessed to being part of a criminal syndicate operating in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, and Issele-Azagba areas. He admitted the money was his share of the ransom.
“On May 13, 2025, he led our operatives to their hideout in the Issele-Azagba area, where one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action shotgun, two AK-47 magazines, and 87 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered,” the police chief said.
“In a separate development, CP Olufemi revealed the arrest of a suspected child trafficker, Mrs Joy Temitope Oyetimi (49), who allegedly drugged a woman with juice and abducted her two-month-old baby in Warri.
“Following an intelligence-led investigation by the Divisional Police Officer of Ekpan Division, the suspect was arrested.
During discreet interrogation, she confessed to stealing the baby, who has since been rescued, now five months old and reunited with his parents.
