In a series of coordinated operations, operatives of the Delta State Police Command has apprehended a suspected kidnapper, seized two allegedly stolen vehicles, and recovered a cache of items including a Beretta pistol, two master keys, and fourteen Toyota vehicle keys. These actions highlight ongoing efforts to curtail criminal activities in the state.

On October 25, 2024, around 5:30 p.m., operatives from the Commissioner of Police’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) mobilized in Sapele town after receiving intelligence on a suspected kidnapping gang leader, identified as Philip Onoghosa. Onoghosa, who has allegedly been terrorizing the Sapele-Warri Road area, was spotted at Amukpe Roundabout purchasing illicit drugs. Upon noticing the operatives, the suspect, accompanied by an unidentified female, fled, abandoning a black Toyota Corolla with the registration number SKL 330 AE. A search of the vehicle revealed a Beretta pistol loaded with two rounds of live ammunition hidden under the driver’s seat. A manhunt for the fugitive suspect is currently underway.

In a separate incident on October 22, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Safer Highway Patrol Team stationed in Sapele, while conducting routine inspections along the Mosogar-Benin Road, flagged down a black Toyota RAV4 SUV with the registration number KUJ-311-MB. The driver evaded the checkpoint, prompting officers to pursue the vehicle. The suspect, realizing he was being closed in on, abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush. Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers discovered identification documents linking the car to its owner, who later confirmed that the car had been stolen from his residence in Kogi State. Additional items found in the vehicle included two metal master keys and fourteen Toyota vehicle keys. Investigations are ongoing as police work to apprehend the fugitive suspect.

On October 21, 2024, officers from Abbi Division, led by CSP Florence Onum, uncovered a plot to abduct a prominent member of the Abbi community. Working on credible intelligence, the police detained Hon. Ndubisi Okechukwu, a former two-term councilor in Emu-Uno, Kwale, around 7:00 p.m. The suspect allegedly confessed to planning the kidnapping in an attempt to force a ransom payment from the local government, as he believed the intended target had close ties to the local government chairman. Okechukwu is currently in police custody, and investigations are continuing.

Delta State Commissioner of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda reaffirmed the command's commitment to safeguarding the state, especially during the “Ember” months, a period when crime rates tend to increase. He assured residents that police officers are actively patrolling all twenty-five local government areas and intensifying efforts to raid criminal hideouts and black spots. The CP urged the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information that could aid ongoing crime-fighting initiatives.

This string of successful operations reinforces the Delta State Police Command’s dedication to securing the region, ensuring that residents can live in safety.