Metro

Delta Police Arrest 10 Kidnappers, Others

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2023

The Delta State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers just as it also foiled a tricycle robbers syndicate.

The operatives recovered from the suspected kidnappers a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. WWR 353 LS, a locally made cut-to-size single barrel pistol as well as 11 rounds of live cartridges.

The PUNCH gathered that sequel to the rampant cases of reported armed robbery/kidnapping along Sapele-Warri road and its environs, which have created fear among road users.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, had on assumption of duty detailed an intelligence unit of the command, the CP-Decoy squad, to embark on a discreet and an intelligence-led operation.

The Commander Decoy Squad, ASP Julius Robinson, led operatives of the squad, relocated to Sapele on a covert operation and while acting on credible intelligence gathered within Sapele and environs arrested one Nyero Sunday (29), of Okwitolo community alongside eight others all in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that all the suspects who were arrested through technical intelligence-led investigation have confessed to their involvements in numerous kidnapping, armed robbery operations, and also admitted to terrorising the Sapele-Warri road.

Confirming the incident, the police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, noted that further investigation also led to the arrest of one Umar Bello (33) from Sokoto State but residing in Warri, who usually buys the stolen phones and other valuables robbed from their victims.

A Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. WWR 353 LS, a locally made cut-to-size single barrel pistol as well as 11 rounds of live cartridges, were recovered from the syndicate.

The PPRO said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.

“In another development, police operatives of ‘B’ division Warri, led by the DPO SP Bolarinwa Alabi were on visibility, confidence building patrol along Airport road, they sighted a tricycle with three male occupants, and in their usual way, flagged down the tricycle, but the rider on sighting the police manoeuvred in a bid to escape on May 15, 2023, at about 0015hrs.

“The operatives went after them until they eventually abandoned the tricycle and took to their heels.

“One of the suspects, named Nworie Emmanuel (20), was arrested and taken to the police station.

“During interrogation, the suspect stated that he is a member of a three-man gang of armed robbers who uses a tricycle to rob innocent people of their belongings along Airport Road Warri.

“He also confessed that they had earlier that night robbed two persons along Airport road, adding that the phone robbed was with Abdul, one of their fleeing gang members and that their modus operandi is to look out for their victims standing at a lonely road at night, and Abdul (currently at large) will jump down from the tricycle, use knife to threaten their victim and rob them of their phones and other valuables.

“Meanwhile, the tricycle together with the knife they use to scare their victims are in custody alongside the suspect while the police are making frantic effort to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang,” the statement read

Also, the command crack squad on May 16, 2023, raided a criminal blackspot located around Osuani in Patani LGA, and arrested one Priscillia Amor, female, aged 35 years.

They recovered 26 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, 19 wraps of substance suspected to be Methamphetamine, eight packets of rizlas, some mobile phones and other exhibits from the female suspect.

The PPRO stated that an investigation is ongoing to arrest her other gang members.

Metro

Police Declare Two Wanted Over Attack On Ahoada-East LGA Administrator, Theft

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command has declared two top officials of the Ahoada-East Local Government Area wanted over their alleged involvement in the brutal attack on the LGA’s Sole Administrator, Hon. Goodluck Iheanachor.

Declared wanted are Mr. Hector Ekakita, Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Ahoada-East LGA, and Mr. Aloni Olodi, Chief of Staff (COS) of the LGA.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the police said the duo is wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and attempted murder. The offenses stem from a violent incident that occurred on June 20, 2025, at the Ahoada-East Council Secretariat.

According to the statement, Ekakita and Olodi, alongside a group of about 30 others, allegedly conspired to assault the Sole Administrator, inflicted injuries on him, forcibly obtained his signature under duress, stole his mobile phones and sensitive documents, and carted away both personal and official property from his office.

The police revealed that despite repeated invitations, the suspects have failed to appear for questioning, prompting the declaration.

“The Rivers State Police Command has declared the following individuals wanted… Mr. Hector Ekakita – Chief Security Officer (CSO), Ahoada-East LGA, and Mr. Aloni Olodi – Chief of Staff (COS), Ahoada-East LGA,” the statement read.

“Their actions resulted in bodily harm to the administrator, who continues to receive medical treatment.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, has urged the suspects to report to the Police State Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, without further delay.

He also warned that anyone found aiding or shielding the suspects would face the full weight of the law.

“The Rivers State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to justice and maintaining public peace and safety,” the statement concluded.
(VANGUARD)

Metro

10 Die In Ogun Night Bus Crash

Published

8 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead, while three others sustained injuries in a lone crash involving a Mitsubishi bus on the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Expressway.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.

Akinbiyi said the accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Ome Bridge, Awa, along Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan highway in Ijebu North Local Government Area.

He stated that the lone crash involved a Mitsubishi bus, registration number EJ829-LSR, which was conveying 15 passengers at the time.

According to Akinbiyi, seven male and three female passengers died. Three others were injured, while a toddler and one adult escaped unhurt.

He said preliminary findings indicate that overspeeding and wrongful overtaking led to the accident.

“Eyewitnesses said the driver wrongly overtook another vehicle at high speed and could not regain control after noticing an oncoming vehicle.

“The driver veered off the road, hit an abandoned gravel pile beside the bridge, and plunged the vehicle into the river,” Akinbiyi explained.

He said the deceased were taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital’s morgue, while the injured were also being treated at the same facility.

The spokesperson urged motorists to avoid speeding and to refrain from travelling at night, stressing the importance of road safety at all times.

Metro

NDLEA Detains Couple, 2 Daughters For Alleged Drug Running

Published

9 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday said it has arrested and detained a businessman, his wife and two daughters over alleged drug peddling.

A statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja, stated that a family friend of theirs was also taken into custody.

Babafemi said that this came after an investigation revealed that the family ran a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos involving a family friend.

“The couple was first arrested on Friday, June 13, by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ojo area of the state and transferred to NDLEA along with 277.5kg of skunk.

“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in his house.

“This led to a raid of their home and a packing store where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, July 1.”

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 2, intercepted a frequent flyer for drug trafficking.

Babafemi said that the suspect specialised in conveying goods for customers from Nigeria to Italy and vice versa.

“He was found to have hidden 7,660 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg inside food items packed among other goods he was conveying to Italy.

“He claimed that he was to be paid the sum of 800 euros upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Italy,” he said.