Delta Police Rescue Kidnap Victim, Arrest Five Suspects, Recover Ammunition

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have rescued a 25-year-old woman allegedly assaulted and held hostage in Usiefrun community.

Furthermore, operatives arrested five suspects in separate operations linked to kidnapping, cultism and murder.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Asaba on Saturday.

According to the statement, operatives of the Otu-Jeremi Police Division, acting on credible intelligence from the Ovwian-Aladja Division, mobilised to Usiefrun community at about 8:30am on October 3, 2026, where they rescued the woman.

The operation also led to the arrest of a 29-year-old suspect, identified as Brotugbare Francis Onome.

A search of the premises allegedly led to the recovery of a locally fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine and two rounds of live ammunition.

In a separate operation, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested two suspected cultists in connection with the murder of a 25-year-old man identified as Godfrey.

The suspects, Ezekiel Sunday Izomor, 23, and Emmanuel Ogaganefe, 23, were arrested on October 1 at a suspected criminal hideout in Oghara following intelligence gathered from a viral video allegedly showing suspected cultists celebrating the killing.

The victim was reportedly murdered at Jesse Main Market, Ethiope West Local Government Area, on March 24, 2026.

The police said one battle axe, four cutlasses and a hammer were recovered during the operation.

Preliminary investigation, according to the command, indicated that a fleeing suspect identified as Collins was allegedly aspiring to become the leader of the Aro Bagger confraternity and was said to have needed the murder of a rival cult member to achieve his ambition.

The police alleged that Collins connived with the two arrested suspects and another suspect, identified as Richman, who was said to be a close friend of the deceased.

Collins and Richman are currently at large, while the police said efforts to apprehend them were ongoing.

Also, operatives of the Abraka Police Division, in collaboration with civilian anti-cult operatives, arrested two men over an alleged plot to kidnap a woman.

The suspects, Endurance Akpade, 37, and Edwin Friday Morgan, 43, were arrested after the division received a report of an alleged kidnap conspiracy on October 1.

The two suspects are currently in police custody and assisting with the investigation.

The command said investigations into the cases were ongoing.