By Matthias Ogbagah, Ughelli
In a bid to make Delta State free of criminality, operatives of the CP Special Squad based in Ughelli, the administrative headquarters of Ughelli north local government area in a gun dwell, gunned down one kidnap kingpin, arrested four suspected kidnappers and five suspected cultists and recovered guns and ammunition.
In a press release by the police image maker, SP Edafe Bright made available to newsmen in the State stated that on August 12, 2024, at about 0430hrs operatives of CP Special Squad based in Ughelli while on investigation alongside a suspected kidnapper Joel Ochuko Ofoye ‘m’ who was earlier arrested on July 18, 2024 led the operatives to Ewu community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State in the trail of a gun runner who supply arms to them before their kidnapping operation.
The press release stated further that while they were trailing the gun runner, the team came under heavy attack by the suspect’s gang members in a bid to free the said Joel Ochuko.
The hoodlums were overpowered by the superior power of the Police as they fled with bullet injuries, but the suspect, Joel Ochuko Ofoye, was hit during the gun duel, and he was taken to General Hospital Ughelli, where he died while receiving treatment.
One Beretta Pistol with four (4) rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine (9) rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action was recovered, a manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
In a similar development, the operatives acting on impeccable information arrest the kidnappers of a 29yrs victim (name withheld) of Kokori Community but resident in Sapele who was kidnapped on February 17, 2024, at his residence by five (5) armed kidnapping syndicate and Five Million Naira ( #5, 000, 000 ) were transferred from his account to an unknown bank account by the hoodlums.
According to the press release, the information provided by the kidnapped victim led the police to embark on a technically driven investigation, stormed Sapele town on August 11, 2024, at about 0430hrs and raided the apartment of one Sapiro whose real name is unknown, and upon search a Beretta Pistol was recovered in his room.
Also his gang leader, Mr.Tony Binitie m” 29 years aka “BOBO” of Big-Warri Community in Warri South LGA Delta, and one other Ejiro Ewuba ‘m’ 30 years a native of Uhwelogbo community in Isoko LGA of Delta State resident at Owumi Road Sapele also arrested as Ayuba Hussaini ‘m’ 38yrs a resident of Hausa quarters, Sapele town the receiver of the victim’s jewelry/phones valued at millions of Naira whom investigation also revealed to have received One Million Naira ( # 1, 000, 000 ) transferred into his account from the victim’s account and also linked to having received victims valuables from various syndicates both of the three suspects confessed to the act.
In the same vein, the operatives of the command have arrested five suspected cultist members believed to be members of the dreaded black axe confraternity at Ogbovwan Community, Ughelli North local government area.
According to the Press Release, the DPO Ofuoma Division, CSP Patrick Uebari on August 5, 2024, at about 1100hrs received a complaint that some suspected cultist members on the same date at about 0900hrs gathered at Ovine Hotel Afiesere and later went to Ogbovwan Community, shot sporadically and killed a dog chained in a house, doors and windows shattered with bullets.
Upon receipt of the complaint, CSP Uebari led patrol teams to the scene; the suspects, upon sighting the police, took to their heels in different directions; the operatives went after them and arrested five suspects, all suspected to be members of the black axe confraternity.
Three locally-made cut-to-size guns, one battle axe, twelve live cartridges, seven expended cartridges, eight phones, and two cross bags were recovered from them. Efforts to arrest the other fleeing suspects are ongoing.
