crime

Delta Police Arrest 10 Suspected Kidnappers, Armed Robbers

Published

9 months ago

January 22, 2026

Q Tinny

Delta Police arrest 10 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers during intelligence-led operations across the state, recovering weapons, drugs, and vehicles

Operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad (SAKCCS) of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 10 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in coordinated operations across the state.

Also read: Delta Police Link Rising Murder Cases to Drug Abuse

The arrests were confirmed in a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, and made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday.

Edafe said on January 20, 2026, at around 4:30 a.m., SAKCCS operatives, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a targeted operation along the Jedo/Ugboton–Warri axis in connection with reported kidnapping and armed robbery cases in Obinoba, Obiaruku, Abraka, Ororokpe, and neighbouring communities.

“The intelligence-led operation saw operatives discreetly trail a suspect to a notorious criminal hideout allegedly operated by one Oke Jerry Ekokodjie and one Ibori.

Upon storming the location, the principal suspects — Oke Jerry Ekokodjie and Ibori — alongside three others, were arrested, while some gang members escaped through adjoining creeks and waterways,” the statement read.

Items recovered included a locally fabricated Beretta-style pistol with three rounds of 9mm live ammunition, a black Mercedes-Benz GLK, a battle axe, illicit substances in commercial quantity, and a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine.

In a separate operation on January 22, 2026, at about 2:56 a.m., operatives from the Obiaruku Division raided a suspected cultist hideout in Amai Community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

Five suspects — Frank Etiyemonu (36), Chinedu Emeka (25), Festus Nwadiche (26), Azuju Onowu (29), and Ozor Blessing (29) — were arrested.

Searches of the hideout yielded a locally made pistol, two battle axes, quantities of Indian hemp and other suspected hard drugs, as well as other dangerous weapons. All suspects are currently in police custody undergoing further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, commended the operatives for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ridding Delta State of criminal elements and urged residents to provide timely, credible information, assuring them of strict confidentiality.

Also read: Delta Police Rescue Baby, Arrest Mother Over Alleged Sale

This follows a recent manhunt for six suspected kidnappers who fled during an exchange of gunfire with police in Upper Agbarho, during which arms and ammunition were recovered.

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crime

Police Arrest Convicted Drug Dealer, Rescue 14-Year-Old Boy in Bauchi

Published

17 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi drug dealer arrest leads to the rescue of a 14-year-old boy allegedly used as a drug courier and the recovery of suspected illicit substances

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly being used to deliver illicit drugs in the state.

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The command said operatives of its Violent Crimes Response Unit intercepted the teenager during a routine patrol and recovered a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Habib, the operatives, led by the unit’s officer-in-charge, intercepted the minor, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11 am on October 26, 2026, while he was allegedly on his way to deliver the suspected drug, also known as Ice, to a customer.

The statement said the teenager told investigators that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery.

“Upon interrogation, the minor confessed that he was sent by one Samuel Ogochukwu, 22 years old, a convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery,” Habib said.

Following the information, detectives traced Ogochukwu to his location and arrested him.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence reportedly led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

The police also recovered 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of Shine Shine Leather.

Habib said the principal suspect told investigators that he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police spokesman added that the 14-year-old had been handled in accordance with juvenile best practices and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

“The 14-year-old minor has been handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling, while the principal suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their work and urged the public to remain alert to criminal activity.

According to Habib, the commissioner said four major drug busts and subsequent convictions recorded within 10 days demonstrated the command’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.