CITIZENS COMPASS – Delta State Police Command has arrested 32 years old Emmanuel James of Otor-Udu, Ughelli South LGA, who is suspected to be the leader of a gang that kidnapped a couple, Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore in Ughelli Town, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
The gang was said to have collected N1m ransom before the couple was released.
Since then, Delta Police has put the gang on its watch list and this recorded a success as the kingpin was arrested.
Spokesperson of the Command, Bright Edafe who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 14, 2023, said the arrest was In compliance with the state Commissioner of Police’s directives.
Giving details of the arrest, he said, ”On May 5, 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 ‘m’ aged 32yrs of Otor-Udu, Ughelli South LGA, 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 LGA and arrested the syndicate driver, one Ejiro Peter ‘m’ aged 25yrs, a native of Kokori community in Ethiope East LGA. They confessed to their involvements in series of armed robbery, 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.
” On 05/05/2023, at about 1730hrs, operatives of the Command State Anti Cult Unit (SACU), while on a joint operation with Dragon patrol, safer highway, raiders squad, RRS at Afisere /Ughelli, they arrested the duo of Tega Precious’ m’ aged 28 yrs and Ebi Marvelloveous ‘m’ aged 27 yrs, one revolver pistol two live ammunition were recovered from them. Suspects confessed to be members of Neo black movement (NBM) cult group.
” The suspects led the operatives to their hideout, where two pump action guns, two double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, and sixteen live cartridges, were recovered. Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.
” The Command recorded another success on 12/5/2023 in Agbarho when operatives of Agbarho Police station were on stop and search duty when they sighted a red GLK Mercedes benz and flagged down the vehicle, the suspect on sighting the Police quickly highlighted from the Benz GLK 350 with reg. number WWR 441 MD and escaped into the bush. The vehicle was recovered to the station and searched during which, a phone number which turned out to be the phone number of owner of the vehicle was seen, and when he was contacted, he confirmed that the car was stolen from him at gun point on 11/5/2023.
” Similarly, on 11/5/2023 at about 1300 hours, operatives of Dragon 19 and 20, while on stop and search duty along Ughelli-Patani expressway, flagged down a Toyota camry with reg no. ABC 810 DK, the suspect jumped out from the vehicle and escaped into the bush. The vehicle was recovered, and investigations so far revealed that it was snatched at gun point on 10/5/2023 in Sapele. Manhunt for the suspects is ongoing.
” The Commissioner of Police Delta State command, CP Wale Abass, assures residents that the command will be working round the clock to ensure that anyone terrorizing the state will be arrested and brought to justice.”
