Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have rescued four kidnapped victims in the forests of Orerokpe community in Okpe Local Government Area.
According to PUNCH, their rescue followed a distress call to the Orerokpe Divisional Police on September 11, 2023, at about 0400hrs that the four persons (names withheld) who are residents of the community on transit along Abraka-Eku Expressway had been abducted by Orerokpe Bridge with the kidnappers demanding N10m ransom.
Acting on the information of the kidnap incident, the DPO Orerokpe Division, CSP Paul Oboware, in a swift response led a team of policemen, with the active support of troops of the Nigerian Army and members of Oreorokpe community vigilantes, trailed the kidnappers into the adjoining bushes using technically generated intelligence.
They combed the bushes relentlessly putting pressure on the kidnappers who on sighting the rescue team hastily abandoned the victims and took to their heels.
Consequently, all the kidnapped victims were rescued on Tuesday, September 12, and taken to the hospital where they were treated and discharged.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, said all the rescued kidnapped victims had since been reunited with their families.
The PPRO noted that efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects were ongoing.
In another development, a crack squad deployed by the DPO Orerokpe Division, in a combined effort with the Aragba vigilantes, had during an intensive stop and search operation at the Aragba Junction along Sapele Aghalokpe Road Okpe LGA, accosted one Sunday Yerakpo in possession of four new locally-made cut-to-size guns.
The 35-year-old male suspect who hails from Orhuwhorun in Odu LGA, had reportedly concealed the four new locally fabricated cut-to-size guns under the seat of his red QLINK Motorcycle (REG NO JRT178VH).
The suspect was immediately arrested while preliminary investigation revealed that he deals in gun running and that one of his accomplices known as Ose Ogboyen sent him to deliver the arms to a client popularly known as “Saputu.”
The police spokesman affirmed that efforts to arrest the said Ose Ogboyen and Saputu were ongoing.
Subsequently, on September 9, 2023 at about 16.30hours, operatives of Ogulagha Police post in Burutu LGA, led by the district officer in collaboration with local members of the Nigeria hunters in the community, forest security service, acting on credible information stormed a premises, No. 8 Palace Road, Ogulagha where one Prince Diegbegha (25), a native of Ogulagha community was apprehended.
When a search was conducted at his residence, one Makarov pistol with an empty magazine was reportedly recovered.
During interrogation, the suspect told the police that he bought the gun for N200,000 from one Oshimili (now late) in 2018 at Ozoro.
The suspect and the exhibit are presently in custody just as an investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, has assured residents of the state that the Command would not relent in doing all it takes to protect the lives and property of the populace.
The police boss said that his pledge to preserve the peace in the state remained his utmost priority and that credible information that would aid in crime fighting could be passed to the command through the PPRO, the Area Commanders, and DPOs while assuring that their identities would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
