Delta Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Armed Robbers in Separate Operations

Operatives recover firearms, ammunition as crackdown on violent crimes intensifies

The Delta State Police Command has arrested four individuals linked to kidnapping and armed robbery incidents across the state in a series of targeted operations, recovering weapons and other exhibits.

In the first operation, police received a report on June 23 regarding the apprehension of two suspects involved in an attempted robbery at a residence. According to reports, one of the suspects had illegally entered a compound but fled upon discovering occupants inside. Local residents, acting on heightened vigilance, chased and arrested the suspect alongside an accomplice, later handing them over to authorities.

Following preliminary investigations, police operatives from the Ugborikoko Division searched the suspects’ residence, where they uncovered a locally fabricated pistol concealed inside a wardrobe. Both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.

In a separate raid, officers from the ‘A’ Division in Ughelli, in collaboration with local vigilante members, arrested two suspected kidnappers linked to a failed abduction attempt on June 19. The suspects, identified as Iliyasu Hassan, 16, and Idris Abdulkarim, 32, were captured on June 22 around 8:30 p.m. after they emerged from a nearby forest to purchase food and medication.

A victim of a previous kidnapping incident has positively identified the suspects as being among those who attacked him. Police disclosed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and recover weapons used in their operations.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended residents for their alertness and cooperation with security agencies, urging the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist police efforts. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

The arrests follow similar operations in Ogun State, where police operatives killed two suspected kidnappers and recovered firearms, cash, and other items during a rescue operation.