Police Arrest 3 Kidnapped Suspects, Recover Ammunition In Delta
Odili Ogochukwu –
The Delta State Police Command have arrested three masked men that allegedly kidnapped a woman at the entrance of her house at Obinoba, in Ukwuani Local Govermnent Area, Delta State on July 19, 2023, at 08:30pm.
The suspected kidnappers who allegedly collected the sum of two million naira (N2, 000, 000.00) and jewelries worth about three million five hundred thousand naira (N3,500,000.00) only accosted the victim with guns while on their way returning from shop.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Bright Edafe, said the arrest was perfected prior to a reported case of kidnapping at Obiaruku Police State via a distress caller complaining the mother has been kidnapped at the entrance to their house.
Edafe said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, mandated the DPO of Obiaruku Police Station to collaborate with Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad (SAKCCS) to bring hoodlums to book.
According to him, the command embarked on an intelligence-led investigation which yielded positively on August 04, 2023, as the operatives arrested one Kabi Kester ‘m’ aged 43yrs who confessed to the crime.
Edafe added that his confession led to the arrest of two other suspects – Henry Owojero ‘m’ aged 42yrs, and Franca Okuzor ‘f’ a self-acclaimed pastor and wife to the leader of the gang named Celestine Okuzor Nova (at large) in whose house the victim was held captive for six days.
“They all confessed to their involvement in the kidnapped and named four others Celestine Okuzor Nova, Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown) as members of the gang. An intensive manhunt for the other gang members is ongoing,” Edafe said.
The statement reads in part; “On 3/8/2023 at about 1600hours, Police operatives attached to Dragon Patrol while on visibility and confidence-building patrol along Benin/Asaba Expressway at Issele-uku, intercepted a commercial Sienna vehicle and subjected the passengers and their bags to a search. During the search, two hundred and fifty (250) rounds of live cartridges concealed in a bag were recovered. The owner of the bag Identified as Omoruyi Osemudiamen ‘m’ age 46yrs was arrested and taken into custody. Investigation is ongoing.
“In another development, acting on a tip-off, on 3/8/2023, a combined team of Bufallo and Eagle-Net Special Squad of the command stormed summit road in Asaba and arrested one James Moro ‘m’ aged 23yrs, and a locally fabricated pump action gun was recovered from him. Investigation later revealed that the suspect uses the gun to rob innocent persons at night along that axis. Investigation is ongoing.
“CP Wale Abass calls on members of the public not to relent when they face any security challenges urging all to trust and report cases of kidnapping and other related issues to the Command and trust that the culprits will be arrested and prosecuted.”
