Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have successfully arrested three kidnap kingpins, including a Cameroonian, operating in Warri axis of Delta State.
The arrested kingpins were unveiled as Yakubu Ya’u, 20yrs, from Kaduna, Musa Yakubu, 25yrs from Kogi State, and the 38-year-old Cameroonian, Abdulahi Mohammed.
Yakubu Ya’u was smoked out of his hideout in Warri on May 11 by a combined team of police operatives from the command and the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja, led by the DPO Orerokpe, CSP Paul Oboware.
Delta Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Thursday, said Yakubu Ya’u, who’s the leader of the gang, usually came to Oha and Ughwagba communities in Okpe Local Government Area to kidnap unsuspecting residents for ransom.
According to him, the “suspects are allegedly responsible for several kidnapping incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele, Warri, and environs.
“The victims have equally identified the suspects. The suspected kidnappers led the detectives of the Orerokpe Division to Ughwagba Community in Okpe LGA, where two Automatic Pump Action Guns, one live cartridge, and one knife were hidden and buried in the bush were recovered.
“Preliminary investigations are still ongoing, and efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gangs are in top gear.”
Edafe further disclosed the arrest of two other suspects for armed robbery and cult-related offences.
“On 10/5/24 at about 1500hrs, while acting on a report made at Ozoro division, a report was made at the Ozoro Division, police operatives arrested one Michael Udo (m) aged 20yrs, during investigation, a search warrant was executed in his premises where a Locally Made Revolver Gun and Two live Cartridges were recovered in his house.
“On 14/5/2024 at 0300hr, the DPO Obiaruku Division received a report from a distress caller, that he was being bullied and forced into a cult initiation.
“On the strength of the complaint, the DPO Obiaruku mobilized police operatives and arrested the suspect identified as Chinedu Okolo ‘m’ aged 31yrs of Ezhionum Community.
“One Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol and the handset forcefully taken from the victim were recovered from them. Efforts are in progress to apprehend other fleeing suspects.”
Edafe quoted the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, as cautioning “youths to shun all forms of criminality, cultism, and abuse of drugs.”
