Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 34 suspected kidnappers and rescued three kidnap victims during a special operation in the Ughelli area of the state. The operation, which also led to the recovery of arms and ransom payments, was aimed at restoring calm to the troubled region.
The development was confirmed in a statement shared on X by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on Friday. He credited the success of the operation to a special assignment team led by ASP Julius Robinson, under the directive of the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda.
“This is the CP special assignment team (CSP SAT) deployed to Ughelli by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, headed by ASP Julius Robinson. They have successfully brought calm to Ughelli and its environs,” the statement read.
According to the police, the team recovered a significant cache of weapons, including seven AK-47 rifles, an AK-49 rifle, a G-3 rifle, six pump-action guns, 16 Beretta pistols, and 88 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, the operatives recovered a ransom of N5.5 million paid to the kidnappers.
Edafe noted that the efforts of the police have greatly improved security in the area, stating, “This master stroke by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has indeed made sure that residents in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Oghara, and environs sleep with their two eyes closed.”
The police operation has been hailed as a major breakthrough in curbing criminal activities in the region, bringing a sense of relief to the residents.
