Delta State Police Command has arrested over two hundred suspects over various offences ranging from kidnapping, internet fraud, cultism, illegal possession of firearm, ammunition and illicit drug dealings.
Briefing newsmen in Asaba, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda said a total of 211 suspects were arrested at various parts of the state , with the following items recovered: 359 ammunition and cartridges, 18 firearms, 8.5 million naira ransom and 378 laptops and mobile phones.
He hinted that the command had continued to make Delta State a hot spot for criminals by maintaining continuous, proactive, intelligence-driven Policing and community policing.
CP Abaniwonda stated, ”On the 9th of July, 2025, at about 0835 hrs, along the Patani-Ughelli Expressway, operatives of the CP-special Assignment team in a sting operation raided the hideout of one Solomon Danisco aka “Picolo”, Nelson Jacob, Oruma Saturday, Olise Jude, Precious Urhobowin, Whisky Rufus, aka “Asawana”, a native of Ewu community. During the operation, the heavily armed suspects engaged the operatives in a fierce gun duel, during which the suspects and their gang members sustained serious gunshot injuries. They were taken to the hospital, where six of them were confirmed dead while two others are still receiving treatment. Exhibit recovered includes four (4) locally-made guns and nineteen (19) live rounds of cartridges.”
He stated further, ”On 12th July 2025 at about 0630hrs, operatives of the Special Anti-kidnapping and cyber-crime squad trailed some suspected kidnappers terrorizing the State to their hideout in Ogwashi-Ukwu in Oshimili North LGA OF Delta State where a suspected kidnapper named Sanusi Abdulahi was arrested in possession of ransom of Five Million Naira (#5,000,000) which was part of the ransom they collected from their last victim. Preliminary investigation revealed that they are allegedly responsible for a series of kidnappings at Ibusa Ogwash-Uku, Obulu-Okiti, Isele-Uku, Isele-Asagba and most recently the kidnap of a young lady at Ogwash-Uku on the 9th July 2025. The suspect led the operatives to their hideout at Second Deputy, where four other members of his gang were also arrested.”
While urging members of the public to continue to assist the command with relevant information, the Delta State Police Commissioner revealed that the command had recorded successes in collaboration with the Nigeria Army in the arrest of 184 internet fraudsters.
”The command, in a combined effort with the Nigeria Army, on the 21st July 2025 at about 1745hrs, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a coordinated raid on a location within Post Housing Estate, Effurun, where suspected internet fraud was taking place. The operation resulted in the arrest of one Kelvin Odini, aged 33 years, and one hundred and eighty-three (183) others engaged in online fraud-related activities. Items recovered from the suspects include: Two hundred and seventy-three (273) assorted laptops, Ninety-seven (97) assorted smartphones, One (1) iPad, one (1) table phone, Nine (9) laptop chargers, and Two (2) Wi-Fi routers. Investigation is ongoing”, Abaniwonda stated.
He said the Command recovered a bag containing 3.5 million naira at Ogwashi-Ukwu forest suspected to be ransom money, ”On the 30/07/2025 at about 2300hrs Operatives of Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad in a combined effort with men of Nigeria Army attached to 63 Brigade Nigerian Army base, embarked on an intelligence led operation and stormed Ogwashi-Ukwu forest cum hideout of some suspected kidnappers who kidnapped two polytechnic female students on 23/07/2025 at Asagba Ogwashi. The combined teams engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun duel, which led to the death of two suspected kidnappers. One AK-47 rifle, thirty-nine rounds of live ammunition, a bag containing the sum of three million, five hundred thousand naira (#3,500,000), suspected to be ransom collected from one of their victims, were recovered.
CP Abaniwonda added that the Command arrested a young woman who arranged for her own kidnap to exploit millions of naira from her brother. ”On 21st July 2025 at about 2030hrs, the command received a report of a suspected kidnapping incident involving a female victim around Bonsaac, Asaba. Acting promptly on the report, I directed Commander Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad to ensure that the victim is rescued unhurt. Acting on this directive, the command led operatives and launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation, on 22 July 2025 at about 0900hrs the operatives arrested one Alfred Elisha ‘m’ at Koka Roundabout, and Ugochukwu Adim ‘m’, off DLA Road, Asaba, Upon arrest of the suspects, they confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnap but plotted between the victim and them. Their revelation led to the arrest of the main suspect, Merit Eneh, aged 27 years old. She confessed that the money loaned to her by her brother of about three million six hundred thousand naira (#3,600,000), she used it to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding, which took place in the month of March 2025. She further stated that she faked her own kidnap and received a ransom of three million naira (#3,000,000) and gave her accomplices five hundred thousand naira (#500,000), and she took two million, five hundred thousand naira (#2,5000,000) for herself. All suspects involved have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
Recovered items including arms, ammunition, cartridges illicit drugs, cash, laptops and phones were displayed at the police headquarters, Asaba.
Sam Erhunmwunsee, Radio Nigeria Asaba
