CITIZENS COMPASS —Delta State Police Command has arrested eight suspected kidnappers in Oghara, Sapele, Warri and their environs.
This followed intelligence information about the kidnap of a 43yrs old woman (name with-held), by a syndicate of armed men in a tricycle along Shell Road, Sapele on November 19, 2023, at about 2100hrs.
The woman was said to be driving in her ML-350 Mercedez Benz when the suspects struck and was transferred into their operational tricycle.
She was released on November 22, 2023, upon payment of N2, 000,000 ransom.
Disclosing this in a statement yesterday, spokesperson of the Command, Bright Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass detailed the operatives of CP – DECOY Squad, led by the commander ASP Julius Robinson, directing that they utilise all technically generated intelligence to get the perpetrators of the act. “Consequently, on 25/11/2023, the team embarked on a sting operation assisted by the DPO Sapele which led to the arrest of the syndicate’s gang leader, Morrison Godwin, a 41 years old male suspect from Okpara WaterSide Community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State at Amukpe Area of Sapele Town at about 1100hrs on that day.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and revealed an intended meeting with other gang members on November 25, 2023, to strategize on another kidnapping operation. “Armed with this information, the team laid an ambush at their meeting point on November 26, 2023 and arrested other gang members like Raymond Etchie ‘m’ 46 years who negotiated and received the said ransom; Felix Okoro ‘m’ 40 years who is one of the syndicate’s operational driver; Oghene Ogaga sylvester ‘m’ 45 years who guarded the victim; Henry Edeki ‘m’ 35yrs, Ominike Sunday ‘m’ 23yrs, Jerusalem Sunday ‘m’ 35yrs, and Theophilus Akpofi “m” 29yrs.
“All the suspects have confessed to the crime admitting their various roles and have been identified by the victim.
“During interrogation, they disclosed the location of the victim’s vehicle which was later recovered at Oghara Town. Effort is been intensified to recover the syndicate’s operational weapons.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State applauded the DECOY Squad for their diligence that culminated in the arrest of the kidnappers, he also assures the public that more achievements are on the way, as the command is out to ensure the collective safety of the people of Delta State.
“He once more urged the public to always trust the Police to effectively tackle crime in the State and to ensure that residents sleep with their two eyes closed.
“In the same vein, they are to note that security is everyone’s business hence the need to partner with the Police and help with all the needed information to tackle crime cannot be overemphasized.”
