The five kidnapped members of Elyon Paradise Ministry Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State have been rescued by the police from the den of their abductors.
The kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Ubuluku forest where they were being held hostage by a combined team of the operatives of the Delta State Police Command.
Recall that the five church members were kidnapped on Saturday, February 22, 2025, while attending a night vigil service at the church in Ogwashi-Uku.
Following the development, coupled with rising cases of kidnappings and other criminal activities in the area, the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, few days ago, redeployed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) but also deployed tactical teams to Ogwashi-Uku which included relocating operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime squad to Ogwashi-uku with a clear mandate to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued unhurt.
In a statement today, Friday, the spokesperson for the Command, SP Bright Edafe said, “Consequently, on 25th February 2025, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime Squad led by the Commander, CSP Labe Joseph embarked on a sting operation alongside members of Ubuluku community vigilante, and other concerned indigenes of Ubuluku community, stormed Ubuluku forest where the victims were being held hostage.
“The kidnappers, on sighting the Police, engaged the Police in a fierce gun duel, but they could not withstand the superior firepower of the Police; they took to their heels and abandoned the victims.
“All five of the kidnapped members of Elyon Paradise ministry were rescued unhurt and have since reunited with their families.
“Exhibits recovered from the scene include thirteen rounds of expended cartridges, a bag containing the sum of One Million, three hundred thousand naira (#1,300,000) suspected to be ransom money. A manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commends the gallantry of the operatives and the resilience of good-spirited members of Ubuluku community vigilantes and indigenes, which includes some human rights activists who took it upon themselves to follow the Police into the bush during the rescue operation.”
