Operatives of Delta State Police Command have arrested suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, and “one chance” criminals in the state.
Police said a 37-year-old Lucky Oghenerobor, the alleged leader of the ‘one-chance’ criminal gang and owner of the operational tricycle used to lure victims before robbing them was arrested.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe in a release in Asaba disclosed that Oghenerobor hails from Olomoro community in Isoko South but resides in Agbarho.
Two other suspects identified as Olamide Fagbaibe (24), from Akure, Ondo State, and Umeh Akpan (37), from Eket in Akwa Ibom State but residents of Ughelli town were also arrested.
Edafe said the the trio had confessed to robbing unsuspecting passengers across Ughelli, Warri, and Sapele.
The police recovered 16 sophisticated mobile phones believed to be stolen from their victims.
In another coordinated raids led by the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), police recovered firearms, a tricycle used for criminal operations and 16 suspected stolen mobile phones.
The CP-SAT operatives, acting on intelligence linked to a kidnapping case initially reported at the Isiokolo Police Station, arrested one Augustine Ojanuware, who confessed to being a member of a kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate responsible for several attacks in Ughelli, Warri, Agbarho and Sapele.
Acting on his confession, the team conducted follow-up operations in Osubi and Ughelli, arresting two additional suspects – Precious Urhobowin (27), of Ewu Community, and Julius Okpako (32), of Oviri-Ogor.
Okpako was identified as the owner of a POS machine allegedly used to collect ransom payments from victims.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Edafe Bright in a release in Asaba, said a locally fabricated gun and eight rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the arrests.
He said police investigations revealed that the syndicate was behind the June 19 kidnapping of a female pharmacist in Ughelli.
“The victim was held for five days and released after an undisclosed ransom was paid. Her Lexus SUV was later abandoned along the Isiokolo axis.
“The gang was also linked to an attempted kidnap and car robbery involving a Toyota Corolla in Iyede community on April 28,” Edafe revealed.
