The Delta State Police Command has reported that two suspected kidnappers were neutralized during an operation along Ewheru-Patani Road in Ughelli Local Government Area.
This was confirmed in a statement by the state’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, released on Wednesday in Warri.
According to Edafe, the operation took place on October 28 around 7:48 PM when the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a known hideout of the suspects.
However, the team faced an ambush from the kidnappers, leading to a fierce gun battle. Two of the suspects sustained bullet wounds and were later confirmed dead by doctors at the General Hospital in Ughelli.
During the operation, the police recovered a Beretta pistol loaded with two rounds of live ammunition and an AK-47 rifle with six rounds of live ammunition.
SP Edafe stated, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly responsible for terrorising the Warri-Sapele road and the Mosogar axis, as well as some killings in Oghara and Ughelli.”
In a separate operation, five suspected cultists were arrested on November 4 in various locations within the Oton community and Sapele town. Led by ASP Julius Robinson, the CP-SAT team apprehended Eremoje Dudun Oritsedere (alias ‘General’), 34, allegedly the gang’s AK-47 holder, and Emmanuel Irhurhu, 29; Godstime Jacob, 25; Ighene Jefrry, 29; and Iboyi Gain, 33.
Police revealed that these suspects were allegedly members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, identified through confessions by an earlier arrest, Philip Okunumah (alias ‘G3’).
The police also recovered a Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition and an abandoned Toyota Corolla used by the group.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has advised parents to discourage their children from joining cults and encouraged the public to report suspicious activities to help maintain peace.
