Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have continued their crackdown on criminal elements in the state with the arrest of the suspected kidnappers of a couple in Ughelli town of the state.
The couple Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore were abducted on Thursday, April 4, 2023, and were released after the payment of one million naira ransom.
The arrest of their abductors according to a statement by the spokesperson of the Police in Delta State, DSP Bright Edafe on Sunday followed the directive of the newly deployed state Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass to “the Command Decoy squad to embark on an intelligence-led investigation and ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book.”
DSP Edafe in the statement explained that “In compliance with the CP’s directive, on 11/05/2023, at about 2315hrs, operatives of the command Decoy squad led by the commander, Asp Julius Robinson acting on credible intelligence gathered, embarked on a sting operation and arrested one Emmanuel James aged 32yrs of Otor-Udu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, who is suspected to be the leader of the gang.
“On 12/05/2023, at about 0230hrs, the suspect led the operatives to Ejewu community, Udu Local Government Area and arrested the syndicate driver, one Ejiro Peter aged 25yrs, a native of Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
“They confessed to their involvement in series of armed robbery and kidnapping operations in Ughelli and Warri which includes the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023, at Ughellli town and a ransom of one million naira (#1,000,000.00) was paid before the couple was released.
“On 12/05/2023, the suspects led the operatives to another notorious member of their criminal gang whose real name is unknown but fondly called “oh lord” at Egbike area in Udu. The suspect, upon sighting the police, engaged them in a gun duel and escaped through the ceiling of his apartment with bullet injuries. When his apartment was searched, a bag containing a locally fabricated pistol and three (03) rounds of 7.62 AK47 live ammunition were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.”
