In the state’s Okpe Local Government Area, officers from the Delta State Police Command freed four kidnapped victims and detained an alleged arms dealer and a robber.
The four victims were kidnapped along the Abraka-Eku expressway, according to DSP Bright Edafe, the command’s spokesperson, who made this announcement in a statement on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
The statement read, “On 12/9/2023 at about 1600hrs, acting on information of the kidnap incident reported at Orerokpe Division on 11/9/2023 at about 0400hrs of four persons (names withheld), all residents of Orerokpe while on transit along Abraka-Eku expressway by Orerokpe Bridge, Okpe LGA and that the kidnappers were demanding Ten Million Naira 10,000,000.00 ransom.”.
“The DPO Orerokpe Division CSP Paul Oboware in a swift response led a team of Policemen, with the active support of troops of the Nigerian Army, and members of Oreorokpe community vigilantes, who used technologically generated intelligence to trail the kidnappers into the adjacent bushes.
“They relentlessly searched the bushes, applying pressure to the kidnappers who, upon spotting the rescue team, hastily fled with the victims.
Since then, all of the abducted victims have been reunited with their families after being treated at the hospital and being released after being rescued.
The suspects are still on the run, but efforts to catch them are ongoing.
According to the PPRO, during a stop and search along Sapele Aghalokpe Road, Sunday Yerakpo, a suspected arms dealer, was apprehended along with four brand-new, locally made cut-to-size guns.
“The DPO Orerokpe division deployed Crack squad of the Division to embark on a proactive and crime-preventing policing within his area of responsibility,” according to the police commissioner of delta state, CP Wale Abass PSC.
“This Crack Team, working in tandem with the Aragba vigilantes, launched a thorough stop-and-search operation at Aragba Junction along Sapele Aghalokpe Road Okpe LGA, where they confronted one Sunday Yerakpo who was carrying four brand-new locally made cut-to-size guns.
The four brand-new, locally made cut-to-size guns were hidden under the seat of the 35-year-old male suspect’s red QLINK motorcycle (REG NO JRT178VH), which he owned.
The suspect was detained right away, and a preliminary investigation revealed that he deals in gun running and that one of his associates, Ose Ogboyen “m,” sent him to deliver the weapons to a customer known as “Saputu.”.
Arrest attempts for the aforementioned Ose Ogboyen and Saputu are ongoing.
Prince Diegbegha, a alleged armed robber, was apprehended in the state’s Burutu Local Government Area while in possession of one Makarov pistol.
He admitted during questioning that he had purchased the firearm from one Oshimili in 2018 for N200,000.
“On 09/09/2023 at approximately 1630 hours, members of the Ogulagha Police Post under the Burutu LGA, led by the district officer (DO), working with local Nigerian hunters in the community, and the Forest Security Service, acting on credible information, stormed No. A prince named Diegbegha “m,” who is 25 years old and a native of the Ogulagha community, was apprehended at 8 Palace Road in Ogulagha.
“One Makarov pistol with an empty magazine was found during a search of his home. During questioning, the suspect admitted that he purchased the gun from one Oshimili (now deceased) in Ozoro in 2018 for two hundred thousand naira (200,000).
While the investigation is ongoing, the suspect and exhibit are both in custody.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass assures the public that his pledge to uphold the state’s peace remains his top priority and that reliable information that will help in combating crime can be forwarded to the command through the Police Public Relation Office, the Area Commanders, and DPOs while assuring that their identities will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
