The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of a 48-year-old woman who was kidnapped in Ovade Forest, Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state. Acting on a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Oghara led operatives into the forest to rescue her. The kidnappers engaged the team in a gun duel but were forced to retreat, abandoning the victim, who was rescued unhurt.
During the rescue operation, one unidentified suspect was found lifeless, while another, Abubakhar Sani, was apprehended with gunshot injuries. Both suspects were later confirmed dead at the hospital. The police recovered a dagger, a NIN slip, OPay Verve card, Tecno mobile phone, and other personal effects from the scene. The victim was stable and undergoing debriefing, while efforts to apprehend the other fleeing suspects were ongoing.
In a separate operation on September 19, 2026, police arrested 30 suspected cultists, including one female, at a suspected cult initiation gathering in Eku. Preliminary investigation indicated that the gathering was allegedly connected with the initiation of new members into the Black Axe Confraternity. The suspects were transferred to the Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU) for further investigation.
Further intelligence developed from the investigation led the Commander, CACU Sector 2, Ozoro, and his operatives to Obiaruku, where 20 additional suspects, comprising 15 males and five females, were arrested over suspected cult-related activities. The arrests were made on September 20, 2026. The police also recovered a locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge, and a quantity of substance suspected to be cannabis.
In another development, four male suspected members of the Supreme Vikings and Eiye confraternities were arrested in Ubulu-Uku on September 20, 2026, in connection with a suspected cult-related killing. The suspects, Okwudili Ozah, 34; Chekwube Onwuka, 18; Onyebe Emmanuel, 19; and Ozoremenem Izuchukwu, 21, have been handed over to operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU) for further investigation.
The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel E. Erale, commended the operatives and other security stakeholders involved in the operations. He reiterated the command’s resolve to sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes, warning criminal elements to desist or face the full weight of the law.
The Commissioner assured residents that the command would continue to dismantle criminal networks, recover illegally held weapons, and bring perpetrators of violent crimes to justice. The police operations resulted in the arrest of 54 suspected cultists and the rescue of the kidnapped woman.
Key points
- The Delta State Police Command arrested 54 suspected cultists in various operations across the state.
- A 48-year-old woman was rescued from kidnappers in Ovade Forest.
- The police recovered several items, including a locally made gun, cartridges, and cannabis, during the operations.
