The Delta State Police Command has recorded yet another breakthrough in its fight against crime and criminality in the state with the rescue of a kidnap victim and the arrest of members of an armed gang and recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition in some parts of Isoko area of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali, in a statement signed by the PPRO of the Command, DSP Bright Edafe, expressed appreciation over the effort and contributions of major stakeholders towards the fight against crimes, just as he admonished law-abiding citizens to assist the Police with useful information.
Giving details of one of the major breakthroughs in the last one week, the command disclosed that a 63-year-old lady kidnapped by an armed gang was rescued along Irri-Aviara community road on November 30 by the Oleh Division of Police led by the DPO, Paul Oboware.
The statement read: “On the 30/11/2021, at about 2200hrs, acting on information received from a motorcyclist that a lady (Name withheld), age 63-yr old, of Ughelli town, was seen with two boys armed with machetes, suspected to be kidnappers, in an isolated place along Irri-Aviara community road, Irri in Isoko South Local Government Area.
“The DPO, Oleh Division, SP Paul Oboware, swiftly mobilized and led Police patrol teams in a combined effort with Irri vigilante and cordoned off the surrounding bushes. The hoodlums, on sighting the Police, abandoned the victim and escaped into the bush.
“Investigation later revealed that the victim was kidnapped on the 26/11/2021 at about 1830hrs at Olori road, Ughelli, on her way home. The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Ari Muhammed Ali FCIA, PSC(+) mandated the DPO to ensure that these hoodlums are brought to book.”
According to the statement, following the directive of the Commissioner of Police, the DPO of Oleh Division, embarked on a full-scale investigation which led to the arrest of one of the members of the kidnap gang who, upon interrogation, led the Police to recover a large cache of arms and ammunitions from his house.
The statement added: “In compliance with the directive of the CP, the DPO Oleh Division embarked on an intelligence-led investigation. Police Operatives and vigilante were strategically deployed for the purpose of getting useful information with a view to apprehending the hoodlums, arresting and bringing them to book.
“Consequently, it paid off as, on the 02/12/2021 at about 2143hrs, the DPO received another distress call from the vigilante deployed around Irri roundabout Oleh, that some hoodlums were sighted near the roundabout operating in a white Toyota Hilux without registration number. The caller further stated that, in an attempt to kidnap one man (name withheld) who recently returned from Europe, disagreement ensued among members of the gang making residents in the area to become suspicious of them and had to alert the vigilante.
“The gallant DPO Oleh Division, again led a combined team of Police operatives/vigilante to the area in a carefully planned operation which led to the arrest of one of the suspects named Davidson Odigho ‘m’ aged 26yrs of Irri community in Oleh, while other members of the gang escaped in the white Hilux pickup.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being part of the gang that kidnapped the 63-year-old woman on 30/11/2021 and abandoned her when they noticed that the police were closing in on them. The suspect led police operatives to his house where one Ak 47 rifle, nineteen (19) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one magazine, one pump action gun and twenty- six (26) live cartridges — all concealed in a sack bag and buried in the compound were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.
