Guns, Gangs and Guts: Delta Police burst kidnap ring

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IN what can only be described as a masterstroke of tactical brilliance and sheer courage, the Delta State Police Command has smashed a sprawling interstate kidnap syndicate, seized a deadly cache of firearms, and arrested several dangerous criminals in an operation that spanned multiple states.

The operation, led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, through his elite Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), saw arrests made in Rivers State, while recoveries and further breakthroughs took place in Delta State — painting a grim picture of a syndicate operating in the shadows of South-South and South-East Nigeria.

“We’ll chase them to the ends of the earth”

According to Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the breakthrough came on the evening of 16 May 2025 when officers tracked and apprehended a 21-year-old suspect, Idirisu Yakubu, in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt. Yakubu, originally from Kwara State, wasted no time under interrogation and on the following day, led officers to the nerve centre of the syndicate.

It was there they struck gold — arresting the suspected mastermind, 40-year-old Bello Amodu, originally from Tangaza LGA in Sokoto State, now a resident of Port Harcourt. Amodu, police say, coordinated several kidnapping rings across four states.

But the operation didn’t end there. As dawn broke on 17 May, the syndicate’s alleged Enugu coordinator, Umar Mohammed Beto, 38, was also captured. And then came the most chilling discovery — in a dense bush along the Ughelli-Ozoro road, operatives uncovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with twenty-three live rounds, and a pump-action shotgun primed with seven cartridges.

“This is not just a victory; it’s a warning,” said CP Olufemi. “To those who think they can terrorise our people, know this — the long arm of the law is quicker and more resolute than ever before.”

Warri weapons haul shocks community

Meanwhile, a separate intelligence-led raid in Warri South LGA turned up a veritable armoury in the home of a 53-year-old suspect, Benjamin Benemor. The Eagle Net Surveillance Team discovered five firearms — including English and locally made pistols and shotguns — along with 15 live cartridges and a battle axe.

“This haul is disturbing,” remarked one community elder, Mr Marho Oghenekevwe. “We sleep with one eye open in Warri, but this shows that evil has been living among us.”

Stop-and-search yields surprise on the highway

Just days earlier, on 15 May, Rapid Response Squad officers, on a routine stop-and-search along the Asaba-Benin Expressway, intercepted a suspicious Jetta vehicle. Inside were two men — 49-year-old Blessing Ngbajime and 27-year-old Okpako Oghenhovo. A fabricated Beretta pistol was found concealed on Okpako.

“All the suspects are currently undergoing profiling and intense interrogation,” SP Edafe confirmed.

Residents urged to remain vigilant

CP Abaniwonda has hailed his officers’ “unflinching bravery and professionalism,” noting that these successes demonstrate the Command’s “unwavering commitment to securing lives and property.”

He urged the public to assist the police through timely and credible information. “We cannot be everywhere at once, but together, we can flush out every remnant of terror in our communities,” he said.

With investigations ongoing, the Delta State Police Command has sent a strong message to criminals: the days of impunity are over, and the battle for peace has found a relentless new face.