ARREST SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS, RECOVER ARMS IN DELTA

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

The Delta State police command has arrested suspected armed robbers and recovered firearms and others in the state.

This is according to a report released on December 13, 2023, by state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.

The statement reads, “On August 12, 2023, the DPO Nsukwa Division received a distress call informing them that a victim (name withheld) had been abducted while riding his motorcycle home along Ashama Anu-Ugbo Farm Nsukwa, and that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of five million naira (#5,000,000).

“Following the notification of the authorities about the abduction, a more comprehensive operation was executed.

“Divisional Police Officer CSP George Omunu deployed members of the Divisional Patrol Teams on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at approximately 12:10 p.m. in response to reliable information about the kidnappers’ intended ransom collection scheme.

“Furthermore, with active assistance from members of the Command’s tactical teams and other security stakeholders in the Nsukwa Area, they conducted a thorough search and rescue operation.

“The squad continuously searched the Egbudu-Akah bush, tracing suspects at various points within it. The kidnappers began to fire on the rescue squad as soon as they noticed them approaching from a distance.

“The police had to answer to this fierce animosity with a more powerful fire, forcing the captors to flee quickly and the male victim, who was eventually saved, to the safety of his surroundings.

“Following up on intelligence, the operations team returned to the Egbudu-Akah bush at around 14:30 hours on the same day, where one of the suspected kidnappers (name unknown) was found suffering from bullet wounds. After being hastily transported to General Hospital Isheagu, the suspect passed away during his stay there.

“Additionally in another incident, the Raiders Squad raided Boboroku Community, Ethiope West LGA, on November 12, 2022, at around 14:00 hours, in an attempt to restore sanity, following credible intelligence of cultist activities creating a breach to public peace and serenity, bid the area to normality. The suspect ran away when he saw the patrol unit approaching them.

“The police officers pursued these alleged miscreants on instinct, and as they ran away, they left a bag behind.

“One (01) Single Barrel Cut-To-Size Gun was found when the luggage was searched. The exhibit is under custody, and the inquiry has officially started.

“Similarly, on December 12, 2023, Eagle-net squad members saw a motorcycle with two passengers while doing a stop and search along the Odurubu-Bomadi road.

“They were searched, and it turned up a locally manufactured cut-to-size gun and four cartridges hidden in a bag. The suspect is being held while the inquiry is still ongoing.

“All citizens of the state are reassured by Commissioner of Police CP. Wale Abass psc that the command is committed to dealing with criminals in the state decisively and that the command, under his direction, will make the state uncomfortable for criminals”.