A crack team of detectives of the Delta State Police Command has arrested 48 suspected kidnap and armed robbery kingpins who have been terrorizing the people in recent times.
The police commissioner, Zanna Ibrahim, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Asaba disclosed that the suspects comprises seven suspected kidnappers, 11 armed robbery suspect, 11 murder suspect and 16 other persons who indulged in various acts of cultism.
Among arms and ammunition recovered by the operatives were 10 live cartridges, 13 expended cartridges recovered, one rifle, 1 pump Action and 147 rounds of ammunition and vehicles and 1 motor-cycles.
Among the suspects were 29 yrs old Suleiman Ibrahim aka Carlos, a native of Mayolope, Adamawa, and 32-year-old Yusuf Hamisu of Eyan Benin City responsible for kidnap and murder of the divisional police officer C Division, Asaba, suprintendent, Valentine Mbalu while on his way to Agbor to see his family.
The police chief disclosed that efforts are on top gear to apprehend the fleeing gangsters and also recover the corpse of the victim.
He further stated that the suspects who confessed to being members of a five-man kidnap gang that carry out out their nefarious acts between Edo, Kogi, Delta, Enugu and Anambra States.
“The suspects have also unveiled the identities of the gang leader and other members of the kidnap gang. On further interrogation, suspects also confessed to the kidnap of two civil servants attached to Delta State Government House, the murder of one Police officer and one woman, along Benin/Lagos by-pass in the month of February,” he said.
The police chief stated that among the kidnap and armed robbery suspects were 28-year-old Gift Ogoni of Ugheli who was responsible for the death of a deputy superintendent of police, Emmanuel German and one Panama Ovuodeyorem of Ughelli.
Giving Giving vivid picture of the nature of the crime, he said: “One Panama Ovuodeyorem ‘m’ of Ughelli was called on phone by the suspect with the pretence to sell a parcel of land. The victim located the suspect who ordered him to move his vehicle to a lonely road. While the victim was on his way towards the lonely road, he forced the vehicle into a filling station and raised alarm which attracted a police patrol team that arrested the suspect and recovered one locally made cut to size gun, five live cartridges and two ropes from him.
“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. Adding that, he and one Kenneth robbed the complainant of one hundred thousand naira and his two phones on the 30/11/2016 in the same method. In a related development the suspect also confessed to the disappearance and murder of one DSP Emmanuel German.
“He confessed that his five man kidnapping gang called DSP Emmanuel German on phone and introduced themselves as building material dealers at Ughelli and ready to supply him building material on credit. Based on this phone call, the said DSP went and met with the suppliers at Afeisere junction between Agbara and Ughelli. On getting to Afeisere junction, the suspects ordered the DSP into one Jetta car and zoomed off to Agbarho were he was shot on his head and buried in a shallow grave.”
Stating that his personnel will leave no stone unturned to locate the grave of the victim, he disclosed of one Oputu Benjamin Evidence of No. 9 Otirikpen Street, Warri, Delta State responsible for the attempt to kidnap of Duru Ada of Otobo Street, Port-Harcourt, River state.
He assured that officers and men of the command would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the state continue to enjoy greater peace and security.
