The Delta State Police Command has announced a series of significant successes in its ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and cultism in the state.
A statement by the Delta State Police spokesman, SP Edafe Bright on March 17, 2025, said operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) have been instrumental in these achievements.
Edafe said the operatives of the CP-SAT arrested a suspect attempting to purchase AK-47 rifle ammunition, adding that the suspect revealed the location of the hidden rifle, leading the police to engage the gang in a fierce gun duel along the railway line in Agbarho, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.
According to him, four suspected kidnappers sustained serious gunshot injuries and were later confirmed dead at the hospital.
“The operatives stormed the bush along the railway line in Agbarho where the gang members upon sighting the Police engaged the team in a fierce gun duel, during which four suspected kidnappers sustained serious gunshot injuries. One AK-47 Rifle with one magazine was recovered.
“The injured suspects were taken to the general hospital Ughelli for treatment but were later confirmed dead by the doctor. Corpses have been deposited at the hospital morgue while the effort to trail and arrest the fleeing hoodlums is ongoing,” said Edafe.
He added that the police had also on March 13, 2025, arrested a suspected kidnapper, Abdulahi Isah, in Ibusa. The suspect was implicated in the kidnapping of a woman, for which a ransom was paid.
According to the statement, on March 13, 2025, operatives of the CP-SAT carried out a sting operation in Warri South, arresting Gideon Sunday and recovering a locally made cut-to-size g¥n. Further arrests were made in Sapele, with the recovery of a fabricated Beretta pistol and other firearms. The suspects confessed to being members of the Supreme Vikings confraternity.
The statement read partly: “On 13/3/2025 at about 0630hours, operative of the CP Special assignment team carried out a sting operation in Agbogidi area in Warri South LGA and arrested one Gideon Sunday ‘m’ aged 34years.
“The suspect was riding a tricycle alongside his gang member One Godstime Solomon ‘m’ aged 27yrs and upon search of the tricycle, a locally made cut-to-size gun loaded with two live cartridges wrapped in a polythene bag and concealed in the engine compartment of the tricycle was recovered.
“In the same Warri, another suspect named Junior Moses ‘m’ aged 30yrs was also arrested and a locally made gun and two live cartridges were recovered. The operatives at about 1015hrs of the same date acting on confessions of the suspects stormed Sapele town and arrested one great Odiete ‘m’ aged 28yrs of shell road area Sapele and recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol.
“The suspects confessed to being a members of Supreme Vikings confraternity. The suspects and exhibit are in custody and investigation is ongoing.”
Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, while reacting to the incidents noted that the command’s proactive approach, combined with public cooperation, has led to a significant reduction in crime in the state.
