Police Arrest Three Kidnap Suspects, Recover Arms in Delta

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba  and Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Three suspected members of a kidnapping gang have been arrested by the police in Delta State while numerous arms and ammunition, including four AK47 rifles were also recovered.

The Delta State  Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, who stated this while parading the suspects before newsmen yesterday  in Asaba, said that the three young men belong to a deadly gang of kidnappers whose leader, identified as Ezekiel Ese-Oghene, was earlier picked up in Oha community in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

The police commissioner noted that the alleged kidnap kingpin was arrested shortly after he reportedly led members of his gang to abduct his own brother during Oha operation which also led to killing of the victim’s wife.

The State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Bright Edafe, a deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), giving details of the crackdown on “kidnapping being a crime of concern in the State”, recalled that the command had, two months ago, arrested some suspected kidnappers, including one Ese-Oghene Ezekiel, who masterminded the kidnap of his brother (name withheld) and members of his household at Oha community, Okpe Local Government Area during which one Mrs Regina Ogana, the brother’s wife was shot dead.”

However, at the behest of CP Abass,  the DPO of Oreorokpe Division, Mr. Paul Oboware (a CSP) led a team last weekend to fish out other persons involved in the crime.

“The crack team stormed Ofuoma in Ughelli North Local Government Area, where two male suspects namely, James Aboyo aged 21, and Solomon Gbolode were arrested for their involvement in the incident.”

One other suspected member of the gang, identified as 22-year-old Blessing Deco, was subsequently arrested during a search on the criminals’ hideout, and the recovery of arms and ammunition.

Edafe said: “When the house was searched, the following items were recovered: Four  AK 47 rifles; one  pump-action gun; one  locally made single barrel cut-to-size pistol; 58 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition; 13 live cartridges; five  packs of improvised explosive devices (IEDs); six detonators; and, eight empty magazines.”

Edafe said that the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the crime and other kidnapping incidents in the state noting that the suspects, currently in police custody, were aiding investigations, while manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.