*As the CP Special Assignment team arrested 52 Suspects, Rescued 3 kidnapped victims
By Okogbe Precious, Roselyn Johnson & Ehwenhwen Benedicta
UGHELLI – DETERMINED to nip crime in the bud, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda’s Special Assignment team headed by ASP Julius Robinson has recorded a breakthrough as the team arrested fifty-two suspects, recovered a cache of guns and ammunition, and rescued three kidnapped victims.
Parading the suspects and items recovered at ‘A’ Division, Ughelli police division, the Delta State police image maker, SP Bright Edafe disclosed that, acting on intelligence gathered on the activities of a kidnapping syndicate terrorizing Sapele – Warri road and its environs on 12th September 2024, operatives of CP – Special Assignment Team led by ASP Julius Robinson in a sting operation at various points of Sapele town effected the arrest of four suspects namely, Bakpor Isaiah m” 34 years, Victor m” 31years, ogheneochukwu Emmanuel m” 47 years and Godspower Clifford m” 19 years all members of Vikings confraternity.
According to him, a preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are responsible for a series of kidnappings/armed robbery activities along Warri/Sapele Road.
Edafe disclosed further that one AK-47 Rifle and a Toyota Seinna with Reg no. BDG-645-JN, the operation vehicle of the kidnapping/army robbery gang, was recovered, and an investigation is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members.
Disclosing further on the great achievements of the CP – Special Assignment Team, he said, that on September 18, 2024, at about0340hours, operatives of the CP- Special Assignment team acting on intelligence, identified a hideout of suspected kidnappers in Ogor forest, on getting to the hideout, the hoodlums engaged them in a fierce gun duel during which two of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries while other escaped.
The suspects were taken to the hospital where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. One Pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun, and nine rounds of live cartridges were recovered. Manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.
In a related development, on October 5, 2024 sequel to a case of suspected fraudster reported against one Mr.Timothy Ochuko ‘m’ 42 years, Operatives of CP SAT led by the command ASP Julius Robinson embarked on an intelligence-led investigation indicate that the suspect is also into kidnapping activities.
Irked by Mr.Timothy Ochuko’s past antecedent, the operative on October 7, 2024, at about 1635hrs acting on the suspect statement swung into action and the sum of five hundred thousand nairas ( #500,000) was recovered from the suspect’s account as part of his share of the one million one hundred thousand nairas ( #1,100, 000 ) from the four million nairas ( #4, 000, 000 ) collected as ransom from his suspected victim (name withheld) whom they kidnapped on September 25, 2024 in Ughelli town and forcefully withdraw the aforesaid amount from her fcmb bank account before releasing her.
According to SP Edafe, the suspect led the operatives to the house of his gang members, where the suspects, on sighting the police, took to their heels, and one Berretta Pistol was recovered.
In the same vein, determined to monitor the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers along Warri/Sapele roads, the
the Operatives of CP-SAT, on September 17, 2024, at about 1400 hours acting on intelligence reports, stormed Ogorode in Sapele town and arrested Oghenetega ‘m’, aged 33 years, also a member of the Viking confraternity.
Upon search of his residence, one AK-47 rifle, one G-3 Rifle, and a fabricated long gun using a Beretta pistol magazine were recovered. The suspect is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
According to him, acting on an allegedly reported case of the murder of the vice youth chairman of Mosogar town and the murder of a policeman along Warri Sapele road, the Operatives of CP-SAT
intelligent reports indicate that the suspect who carried out the dastardly act has been on the watch list of the command for over three years.
The Operatives, on September 25, 2024, at about 0230hours, trailed and stormed the residence of the suspect Ojoko Ijoyoto, a.k.a Pikolo ‘m’, aged 29 years of morsogar in Ethiope West LGA, and upon search of his residence, one AK-47 rifle loaded with six rounds of life ammunition was recovered. The investigation is ongoing.
Also on October 5, 2024, at about 1405 hours, the operatives arrested a suspect, Tunde Akingbenomo ‘m’, aged 32 years, at his residence located at Ogharaefe in Ethiope East Local Government Area, during a search of his residence, one locally made gun was recovered. The suspect then led the operatives to an uncompleted building where two fabricated automatic Beretta pistols were recovered.
