Police Nab Kidnappers Involved In Kidnap Of Ughelli Couple, Collection Of N1M Ransom

By Daniel Dafe

Police operatives in Delta State have arrested two kidnappers in connected with the abduction of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore.

Police Nab Kidnappers Involved In Kidnap Of Ughelli Couple, Collection Of N1M Ransom

The kidnap operation took place on the 27th of April, 2023.

The police said a total of One Million Naira was paid to secure the release of the duo.

But announcing the apprehension of the suspects behind the operation on Sunday, the Police Spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, said that at the time the new Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, assum

ed office, he directed the Command Decoy squad to embark on an intelligence led investigation and ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book.

The statement added: “In compliance with the CP’s directive, on 11/05/2023, at about 2315hrs, 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 0230hrs, 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.”

He said the suspects have since confessed to their involvements in series of armed robbery, kidnapping operations in Ughelli and Warri which includes the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023, at ughellli town and a ransom of one million naira (#1,000,000.00) was paid before the couple was released.”

The statement continued: “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.”

He said that manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.

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In another development, on the 5th of May, 2023, at about 5.30 p.m., 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, arrested the duo of Tega Precious’ m’ aged 28 yrs and Ebi Marvelloveous ‘m’ aged 27 yrs.

Edafe added that one revolver pistol, two live ammunition were recovered from them.

According to him, the suspects confessed to be members of Neo Black Movement (NBM) cult group.

Police Nab Kidnappers Involved In Kidnap Of Ughelli Couple, Collection Of N1M Ransom

Continuing, he said that 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, just as he said that manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.

The Command also recorded another success on Friday in Agbarho while 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 police said that the suspect on sighting the police quickly highlighted 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 the owner of the vehicle was seen, and when he was contacted, he confirmed that the car was stolen from him at gun point on Thursday.

Similarly, on the 11th at about 1p.m., 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 police said the driver 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,” he said, adding that manhunt for the suspects is ongoing.

Meanwhile, CP Abass has assured residents that the command will be working round the clock to ensure that anyone terrorizing the state is arrested and brought to justice.