Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have foiled a kidnapping attempt by a syndicate of kidnappers in Oghara Kingdom, in the Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, engaging the suspects in a gun duel.
In a signed statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, noted that on 13th August 2024, while students of Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, were celebrating their graduation ceremony, the Divisional Police Officer of Oghara Division, Olasunkanmi Musiliu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, received credible information that some suspected kidnappers had already perfected plans to abduct guests attending the ceremony.
Acting swiftly on the information, Musiliu mobilised and led operatives of the Police Division to the suspected kidnappers’ hideouts in a bush along Otefe/Ovade Legit Road.
Upon sighting the police, the suspects fled, sustaining various degrees of gunshot injuries during the exchange of gunfire with the police.
The police team recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, one English pump-action gun, and one locally made cut-to-size gun from the suspects.
The police statement disclosed that a manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
In another development, on 14th August 2024, at approximately 19:45 hrs, the police anti-crime patrol team of Oghara Division, while conducting a stop and search along Otefe Ijomi Community Road, intercepted a motorcycle carrying one Ovoke Benedict, aged 22 years, a Computer Science student of Delta State Polytechnic Otefe, Oghara, who is a native of Ughelli North LGA, and one Fredrick Urhoborume, aged 23 years, also a student of Business Administration at Delta State Polytechnic Otefe, Oghara, and also from Ughelli North LGA.
The policemen subjected the duo to a search during which one locally made cut-to-size gun with six live cartridges was recovered from them.
Preliminary investigations, according to the PPRO, revealed that they are suspected members of the Arrow Barger Confraternity.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, while thanking the people of Delta State for their support, urged them to “do more by providing useful, credible, and timely information to the police.”
According to the police chief, “This will greatly aid in the fight against crime and criminality.”
The Commissioner of Police advised that “members of the public can reach out to the Command either by reporting to the police station nearest to them or by calling the following control room numbers: 08036684974; 08114895600; 08025666914.”
As part of the efforts to curb the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other related crimes in the state, the Commissioner of Police has directed that all DPOs must ensure their areas of responsibility are adequately policed, urging them to embrace community-based policing.
In addition, he directed that a visibility patrol and a proactive approach to policing must be adopted by all DPOs under his leadership.
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