Delta Police Bust Kidnap Gangs, Rescue Victims, Recover Rifles, N4.5M Ransom

The Delta State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its war against crime, busting kidnap gangs, rescuing several victims, recovering AK-47 rifles, and retrieving N4.5 million suspected ransom from kidnappers in a series of coordinated operations across the state.

Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, disclosed this on Monday during the Command’s First Quarter Press Briefing in Asaba, where he presented the scorecard of achievements from February 2026 to date.

According to the police commissioner, the command under his leadership has continued to make Delta State “hot for criminals” through proactive and intelligence-driven policing, leading to the arrest of kidnappers, armed robbers, drug peddlers, and the recovery of sophisticated firearms and illicit substances.

One of the major breakthroughs came on April 24, when operatives of the command’s tactical team based in Ughelli, acting on credible intelligence, arrested two suspected kidnappers identified as Ahmadu Usman, 22, and Haruna Abdullahi, 37, linked to a syndicate terrorising commuters along the Ughelli-Warri Road.

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Oyeniyi said one AK-47 rifle loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was recovered from the suspects following the intelligence-led operation.

In another coordinated operation carried out on April 9, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, working with the military, stormed a kidnappers’ hideout along Obulu-Uku Power Line following reported abductions in Ibusa and Enu-Ani Mega City, Ogwashi-Uku.

The police commissioner said the suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives, leading to a gun duel. Two female victims were rescued during the operation, while three suspected kidnappers sustained fatal injuries.

Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle, 19 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and N4.5 million suspected to be part of ransom collected from victims.

He said the injured suspects were taken to hospital where they were later confirmed dead, while the recovered ransom money was handed back to the victims.

Similarly, in Issele-Uku, police operatives in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters rescued three kidnapped victims and recovered another AK-47 rifle after a fierce gun battle with suspected kidnappers.

According to Oyeniyi, following a kidnapping report received on March 16, security operatives swiftly mobilised and combed identified hideouts within surrounding bushes, leading to the successful rescue of the victims.

One of the suspects was fatally wounded during the encounter, while the rescued victims were reunited with their families unharmed.

On armed robbery, the command also arrested two suspected robbers, Yushua Buhari, 19, and Garba Muazu, 25, following a series of burglary and armed robbery attacks in Okpanam, Asaba, and surrounding areas.

The suspects were arrested in Imo State during stop-and-search operations carried out jointly by Delta and Imo State Police Commands.

Police recovered 17 sophisticated mobile phones and laptops believed to have been stolen from victims in Delta State.

Preliminary investigations revealed that after robbing residents of phones, laptops, and other gadgets, the suspects usually transported the stolen items to Imo State for sale.

The commissioner said the suspects were in custody, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.
In the area of gender violence, Oyeniyi disclosed the arrest of two suspected human and organ traffickers identified as Blessing Mongo, 47, and Esther, 32, over the trafficking of a 19-year-old girl to Ivory Coast for prostitution.

He explained that the victim, who later returned to Delta State, told investigators that after arriving in Ivory Coast, she was injected with an unknown substance and rushed to a hospital.

When she regained consciousness, she discovered her stomach was bandaged. She was later abandoned in Lagos and eventually found her way back to Delta State.

Medical examination carried out during investigation confirmed that her womb had been removed without her consent before she was brought back to Nigeria.
The two suspects are currently in custody while further investigations continue at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

The command also intercepted suspected hard drugs concealed inside electric energy-saving bulbs along the Onicha-Ugbo/Ewohimi Road.

Oyeniyi said operatives of the Safer Highway Patrol stopped a commercial Sienna bus travelling to Abuja and discovered 490 grams of suspected cocaine, four grams of suspected cannabis, and other illicit substances hidden inside the bulbs.

The driver, identified as Osuke Stephen, 47, was arrested, while preliminary investigations revealed that the substances were meant for delivery to drug dealers in Abuja.

On prosecution of criminal cases, the CP said the command had charged 455 cases to court from January 2026 to date, successfully prosecuted 205 cases, while 250 cases were still undergoing trial across courts in the 25 local government areas of the state.

He said the development should serve as a strong warning to criminal elements that the police command would leave no stone unturned in the fight against crime and criminality.

The police boss also raised concerns over increasing drug abuse and the activities of land grabbers across the state.
He stressed that while the police would not interfere in civil land disputes, the command would not tolerate violence, intimidation, or criminal acts linked to such disputes.

He advised aggrieved parties to seek legal redress in court rather than resort to self-help.

Oyeniyi thanked the Inspector General of Police, Delta State Government, security agencies, traditional rulers, vigilantes, civil society groups, the media, and residents for their support.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to discipline, professionalism, and accountability, warning that officers whose conduct falls below professional standards would face strict disciplinary action.

He also urged residents to continue partnering with the police by providing credible information to help safeguard communities and maintain peace and security across Delta State.