Delta Police Foil Kidnap Plots, Seize Deadly Firearms

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In a major breakthrough against violent crime, the Delta State Police Command has apprehended suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in two separate operations, recovering sophisticated weapons including AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and a locally-made pump-action firearm.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed in a press release that the arrests were made on 20 May 2025 by operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) and the Safer Highway Patrol team.

In the first operation, 30-year-old Abubakar Hassan from Niger State—residing in Woji, Port Harcourt—was arrested based on credible intelligence.

He is believed to be the leader of a notorious kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate operating across Delta, Rivers, Imo and Enugu States.

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“Following his arrest, the suspect led operatives to a forest along the Ozoro axis where two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, and thirty-two rounds of live ammunition were recovered,” SP Bright disclosed.

“This arrest builds on an earlier operation where three of his gang members were captured and weapons seized.”

Police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons.

In a separate incident on the same day, officers conducting a routine stop-and-search along Ughelli Road intercepted a vehicle and uncovered another cache of arms.

“One locally fabricated revolver pump-action single-barrel rifle, fifteen live cartridges, and a canister of chemical spray teargas were found during a thorough search of the vehicle,” Bright added.

The suspect, Obi Ezekiel, 38, from Kogi State, was arrested on the spot and is currently assisting police with investigations.

Reacting to the developments, Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, lauded the professionalism and swift action of his officers.

“These operations show the level of commitment and strategic precision we are applying in our fight against crime,” he stated. “We are not only responding to incidents but actively preventing them.”

He assured residents of Delta State that the Command would sustain the tempo of its operations until criminal syndicates are dismantled completely.

“No criminal will find refuge in Delta State,” CP Abaniwonda warned. “We are tracking them, and we will bring every last one of them to justice.”

The Commissioner also appealed for continued public cooperation, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

“Security is a shared responsibility. With the support of the public, we can secure our communities and ensure peace prevails,” he said.