The Delta state police command has recovered the sum of N4.1 million paid as ransom from a gang of kidnappers operating between the state and neighbouring Anambra.
The command also rescued 5 kidnapped victims, arrested 77 suspects, recovered 13 firearms, 591 ammunition and cartridges and 3 vehicles in October 2025.
Announcing this while reviewing the achievements of the command for the month under review in Asaba on Wednesday, the state commissioner of police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, explained how the N4.1 million ransom was recovered from the suspected kidnappers in Anambra state.
The police boss said following the kidnap of two persons in Oduke, Asaba, on October 3, 2025, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime trailed one 60-year-old Ndianefo Cypre to Isieke village at Ihiala local government area of Anambra State, whose bank account details were used to collect the ransom.
According to him, another suspect, 49-year-old Onwe Sunday, was also arrested at Ihiala in possession of N1, 500, 000 which was part of the ransom.
‘Following confessions of the two suspects, another suspect, Uzoma Ifeanyi Chukwu, was arrested at Nnewi, Anambra state and part of the ransom of N2,600,000 was recovered from him,’ Abaniwonda said.
The commissioner also narrated how three male victims were rescued from Jeddo community in the Ekpan division and have reunited with their families, while seven suspects have been taken into custody.
‘On 30th October 2025 at about 1140hrs, the DPO Ekpan Division received a distress report of a suspected kidnapping incident at Ubeji Community.
‘Acting on the report, the DPO deployed a team of detectives and patrol operatives to the scene.
‘On sighting the approaching police teams, the suspected kidnappers fled into an abandoned poultry house within the same community.
‘The Police cordoned the area, leading to the arrest of the following suspects: Felix Omone ‘m’, aged 33 years, Solomon Omone ‘m’, aged 29, Tony Eboye ‘m’, 34, Omone David (m, 32), Jerry Omone (m, 33), Godspower Omone (m, 25), Edewho Bomele (m, 33),’ he said.
He said efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing accomplices in the crime and recover any weapons or equipment used in the operation.
Similarly, a housewife abducted when armed men broke into her family apartment regained freedom as operatives from Ovian Aladja Police station trailed the kidnappers.
‘On 12/10/2025 at about 1400 hrs, the DPO Ovian Aladja Police station received a distress call from a man (name withheld ) that on the same date at about 0200hrs, while they were sleeping, armed men broke into his apartment, attacked, robbed and kidnapped his wife.
‘The DPO mobilised and led operatives of the division on the trail of the kidnappers.
‘Following unrelenting effort from the DPO and his men, the Kidnappers were forced to abandon the victim and escape.
‘The victim was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with her family, while the manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
‘Also, a woman who was whisked away into the bush at Obinonba in Ukwuani council area on November 1 when armed men stopped the motorcycle conveying her has been rescued and reunited with her family.
‘Acting swiftly on the report, DPO Obiaruku Division led a team of police operatives in collaboration with the local community Vigilante group on 2nd November 2025 at about 0520hrs, trailed the kidnappers into a thick forest at Obinomba community.
‘On sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, which the team responded to decisively, leading to a fierce gun duel during which one of the suspects was fatally wounded.
‘The victim was successfully rescued unhurt, while one AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and twelve (12) rounds of live ammunition were recovered.
‘The injured suspect was taken to the hospital, but was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,’ he said.
Meanwhile, the police have raided a hideout in Effurun GRA in Uwvie council area of the state, arresting one 33-year-old Igwe Samson and 39-year-old Abalum Sunday, both of Ovie Palace road off Effurun Road, Warri.
Cp Abaniwonda. disclosed that ‘upon search of his sienna vehicle 450 bottles of CSP codeine, 188 bottles of bargadine, 208 sachets of tramadol 100mg, 300 sachets of swinol,100 sachets of tramadol 500mg, 50 sachets of rophynol, a big of weed suspected to be cannabis were recovered.’
He urged the people of the state to report any suspicious persons or movements within the environment to the police for action.