From Owen Akenzua, Asaba
Delta State Police Command yesterday said operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Squad in Ughelli on Sunday arrested suspected kidnappers and cultists in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
A statement signed by its spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, said a suspected kidnapper, Joel Ochuko Ofoye, who was arrested on July 18, led operatives to Ewu community in Ughelli South to arrest a gun runner who supplies arms to them.
Edafe disclosed that while the operatives were carrying out investigations, they came under attack by the suspect’s gang members in a bid to free him from police custody.
The hoodlums were, however, overpowered by the police superior fire power as they fled with bullet injuries, but Ofoye was hit during the gun duel and was taken to Central Hospital, Ughelli, where he died while receiving treatment.
The spokesman said the police recovered one Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action.
He said manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the police on August 11 stormed Sapele town at about 4:30pm and raided the apartment of one Sapiro.
According to the police spokesman, a Beretta pistol was recovered in his room, while one Tony Binitie (aka Bobo) of Big-Warri Community in Warri South Local Government Area, identified as the syndicate’s gang leader and one other member, Ejiro Ewuba a native of Owhelogbo community in Isoko North but resident at Owumi Road in Sapele, as well as Ayuba Hussaini, a resident of Hausa Quarters, Sapele town, who is the receiver of the victim’s jewelries and phones valued at millions of naira, were also arrested.
The operation was sequel to the kidnap of a 29-year-old victim (name withheld) of Kokori Community in Ethiope East Local Government Area but resident in Sapele Town.
The victim was kidnapped on February 17 at his residence by five armed men and N5 million was transferred from his account to an unknown bank account by the hoodlums.
The victim, after regaining freedom, reported to the command and the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda directed the special squad to investigate and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book.
Further investigation revealed that Hussaini received N1 million from the victim’s account and also received valuables from various syndicates. The three suspects confessed to the act and efforts are ongoing to arrest other gang members.
In a similar development, the police in Ofuoma Division on August 5, arrested suspected cultists that converged on Ovine Hotel, Afiesere town in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
According to the statement, on the said date, the police received a complaint at about 1100hrs that some suspected cultists had gathered at Ovine Hotel Afiesere and later went to Ogbovwan Community were they shot sporadically and killed a dog chained in the house, while doors and windows of the building was shattered with bullets.
The DPO Ofuoma Division, CSP Patrick Uebari, upon receipt of the complaint, led patrol teams to the scene.
The suspects on sighting the police took to their heels, while police operatives went after them and arrested five suspects.
It was later revealed that all those arrested were suspected to be members of Black Axe Confraternity.
Three locally-made cut-to-size guns, one battle axe with 12 live cartridges, seven expended cartridges,eight phones and two cross bags were recovered.
Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.
The commissioner of police warned that criminally minded individuals would not be allowed to thrive in the state and that adequate deployment had been made to ensure that they are identified, arrested and brought to book.
