The Delta State Police Command in Nigeria has made significant breakthroughs in the fight against violent crimes, rescuing a kidnapped victim and arresting seven suspects in separate operations. According to Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), the operations involved kidnapping and cult-related murder cases. The suspects were arrested on various dates in October 2026, and items recovered included a fabricated Beretta pistol, live ammunition, a battle axe, cutlasses, and a hammer.
On October 3, 2026, the police received credible intelligence that a 25-year-old woman was being held hostage in Usiefrun community. Operatives were mobilized, and the victim was rescued while the main suspect, Brotugbare Francis Onome, 29, was arrested. A search of the premises led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine, and two rounds of live ammunition. The police have identified Onome as the primary suspect in the kidnapping case and are ongoing investigations.
In a separate operation on October 1, 2026, police operatives stormed a suspected hideout in Oghara and arrested Ezekiel Sunday Izomor, 23, and Emmanuel Ogaganefe, 23, in connection with a cult-related killing. The victim, Godfrey, 25, was murdered at Jesse Main Market, Ethiope West LGA, on March 24, 2026. Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the fleeing suspects, Collins, was vying to be the leader of a confraternity and needed to murder a rival cult member to achieve his goal.
The police also arrested Endurance Akpade, 37, and Edwin Friday Morgan, 43, on October 1, 2026, for allegedly conspiring to kidnap a woman in Abraka. The operatives received a report of the alleged conspiracy and apprehended the suspects with the assistance of civilian anti-cult operatives. The arrested suspects are in custody, assisting with ongoing investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, commended the operatives for their swift response and effective intelligence sharing. He reiterated the command's commitment to intelligence-led policing and the fight against kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes. Erale urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to the police.
CP Erale also admonished youths to stay away from cultism, noting that it was a catalyst that would destroy their future. The police have been working to curb the menace of cultism and kidnapping in Delta State, and the recent operations demonstrate their efforts to tackle these challenges.
The Delta State Police Command's recent successes demonstrate its commitment to maintaining security and order in the state. The public has been urged to cooperate with the police by providing information that can aid in the fight against crime. The arrested suspects are facing investigation, and the police are working to apprehend other suspects who are still at large.
Key points
- Seven suspects were arrested in separate operations by the Delta State Police Command.
- A kidnapped victim was rescued, and various weapons were recovered during the operations.
- The police have reiterated their commitment to intelligence-led policing and the fight against violent crimes in Delta State.
