Delta State Police Command has again recorded a breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminalities.
Police detectives of the Command at Ovwian Aladja Division on Thursday, June 1, 2023, arrested the leader of a kidnapping/armed robbery gang, Adim Lucky Onweiyali, age 33.
The arrest of Onweiyali followed the arrest of a POS operator (name withheld) whose account his gang always uses to transfer money from their victims’ accounts.
Giving details on how the gang was smashed, spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Sunday said, “On 15/5/2023, a victim (name withheld) of kidnapping/armed robbery reported at Ovwian Aladja Police station that he was intercepted by some suspected kidnappers who abducted him and his wife and put them in the trunk of their car, drove them to an unknown destination, where they emptied his bank account through bank transfer before releasing them.
“The DPO discovered that a similar case was also reported on the 7th of April 2023 by another victim, and coincidentally, the modus operandi of the suspects was the same. The DPO Ovwian Aladja division CSP Aliyu Shaba, detailed detectives to carry out a discreet and intelligence led investigation and ensure that these suspects are arrested and brought to book.
“On 20/5/2023, following a series of intelligence led investigations, the detectives arrested a POS operator (name withheld) whose account these hoodlums always transfer money from their victim’s account. The POS operator who claimed ignorance of the antecedents of these suspects cooperated and availed the police with credible information that led to the arrest of the gang leader named Adim Lucky Onweiyali.
“The suspect led the police to the houses of other gang members and also to the house of one Akporido Stanley, age 56, who hide the weapon for them. One locally made gun, and three live cartridges were recovered. Suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing.”