Operatives from the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team of the Delta State Police Command have neutralised two suspected kidnappers at their hideouts along Ewheru-Patani Road in Ughelli Local Government Area of the state.
This was revealed in a statement signed and released by the state Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, in Warri on Wednesday.
The statement noted that on October 28, at around 19:48, the CP-SAT operatives, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the criminal hideouts along Ewheru-Patani Road in Ughelli LGA.
However, during the operation, the operatives were ambushed by the suspected criminals.
As a result, the security team engaged the suspects in a fierce gun battle, during which two of the criminals sustained bullet injuries. They were taken to the General
Hospital in Ughelli for medical attention, where they were confirmed dead by the doctors on duty.
The PPRO confirmed that the police team recovered one Beretta pistol loaded with two rounds of live ammunition and one AK-47 rifle loaded with six rounds of live ammunition from the criminals’ hideouts.
According to the police spokesman, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly responsible for terrorising the Warri-Sapele road, the Mosogar axis, as well as some killings in Oghara and Ughelli.
Meanwhile, investigations into the matter are ongoing.
In a separate development, acting on credible information, operatives from the CP-SAT, led by ASP Julius Robinson, arrested five suspected cultists between 03:00 and 05:30 on November 4, 2024, in various locations within the Oton community and Sapele town.
The suspects are: Eremoje Dudun Oritsedere (alias ‘General’), aged 34, from Deghele community in Warri South West LGA, Delta State, but residing in Oton community in Sapele, who was alleged to have been in possession of the gang’s AK-47 rifle; Emmanuel Irhurhu, 29, of Oton community in Sapele; Godstime Jacob, 25, of Jesse community in Ethiope West LGA; Ighene Jefrry, 29, of Jesse town; and Iboyi Gain, 33, of Mosogar community in Ethiope West LGA.
The police stated, “Preliminary investigations revealed that they are suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity. They were arrested based on confessions made by one Philip Okunumah (alias ‘G3’), 28, of Jesse, who had earlier been arrested and confessed to a series of cult-related killings.”
An abandoned operational Toyota Corolla with registration number KWL 635 BU and a Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has urged parents and guardians “to discourage their children and wards from engaging in any cult-related activities.”
Abaniwonda also advised the public to contact the police and report any suspicious individuals or activities in their surroundings.