LAGOS – The operatives of the Delta State Police Command, said they engaged suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in shootouts, which led to the death of one of the suspects.
The operatives said they also arrested three suspects and recovered several arms and ammunition.
Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Command, disclosed in a statement made available to Daily Independent.
Edafe, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said that on August 12, 2024 at about 4.30 a m., operatives of CP special squad with base in Ughelli, while on investigation alongside a suspected kidnapper, Joel Ochuko Ofoye (male), who was earlier arrested on July 18, 2024.
He said the suspect led the operatives to Ewu community, in Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of the State in the trail of a gun runner who supplied arms to them prior to their kidnapping operation.
“While they were at it, the team came under attack by the suspect’s gang members in a bid to free the said Joel Ochuko. The hoodlums were overpowered by the Police as they fled with bullet injuries but the suspect Joel Ochuko Ofoye was hit during the gun duel, and he was taken to general hospital Ughelli, where he died, while receiving treatment. One Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action was recovered, manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”
In another development, the PPRO said that sequel to a case of kidnap of a 29-yr-old victim (name withheld), from Kokori community in Ethiope East LGA of the State, who resides in Sapele town, who was kidnapped from his resident on February 17, 2024; by five armed men.
He disclosed that N5 million was transferred from the victims account to an unknown bank account by the hoodlums.
He said the victim, after regaining his freedom, reported to the Command, adding that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda directed the CP’s special squad to investigate and ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to book.
“The operatives led by ASP Julius Robinson, acting on available information provided by the kidnapped victim embarked on a technically-driven investigation, stormed Sapele town on August 11, 2024 at about 4.30 a.m. and raided the apartment of one Sapiro, real name unknown and upon search a Beretta pistol was recovered in his room, his gang members, Tony Binitie, 29, aka “Bobo” of Big-Warri community in Warri South LGA Delta, who is the syndicate’s gang leader and one other co-gang member by name Ejiro Ewuba (male) 30-year-old native of Uwelogbo community in Isoko LGA of Delta State, resident at Owumi Road, Sapele. “Also arrested was one Ayuba Hussaini (male),38, a resident of Hausa quarters, Sapele town, the receiver of the victim’s jewelries / phones valued at millions of Naira, whom investigation also revealed to have received N1, 000, 000 transferred into his account from the victim’s account and also linked to have received victims valuables from various syndicates. The three suspects confessed to the act. Meanwhile, effort to arrest other gang members as investigation is ongoing.”
