Operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) of the Delta State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola, have busted a suspected kidnap syndicate operating in a forest along the Iyede axis of Ughelli North Local Government Area.
The operation forms part of the Command’s sustained crackdown on crime across the state. Police spokesperson Bright Edafe said three suspected kidnappers earlier handed over by the Area Commander in Ughelli were intensively interrogated by CP-SAT operatives following coordinated operations in Ughelli and nearby communities.
In a statement issued to journalists in Warri on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer disclosed that the suspects — Usman Ayuba, 22, from Iyede Community; Ibrahim Abubakar, 22, from Akwa Ibom State; and Haruna Dahiru, popularly known as Bodere, 23, also from Iyede — provided information that led to significant recoveries.
According to the statement, on February 26, 2026, at about 8:10 p.m , the suspects guided officers to a bush along the Iyede axis where a magazine loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition was recovered. The following day, at about 3:45 p.m., they reportedly led operatives to their hideout in the same area, where an AK-47 rifle was found.
The suspects were later identified by a female victim who had been abducted on February 4, 2026, at Olu Avenue in Ughelli and released three days later after a ransom of ₦2 million was paid. Police confirmed that the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue.
In a separate incident on February 27, 2026, at about 5:00 a.m., operatives of the Dragon Patrol Team stationed along the Abraka-Oghara axis apprehended a 55-year-old man, Shuabu Adams, during a routine stop-and-search operation near Western Delta University.
A search of his belongings reportedly uncovered a locally fabricated cut-to-size gun hidden inside a pullover bag, loaded with two live cartridges. He was immediately arrested, and investigations are ongoing.
CP Adesola praised the officers involved for their bravery, discipline, and professionalism. He stressed that Delta State would not become a refuge for kidnappers, arms traffickers, or other criminal elements.
The Commissioner also urged residents to continue sharing credible and timely information with the police, emphasizing that community collaboration remains vital in the fight against crime.
