The Delta State Police Command has reportedly killed a suspected kidnapper and recovered an AK-47 rifle during a coordinated security operation in Delta State.

The Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said the operation was carried out by operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU) in collaboration with local security volunteers following intelligence gathered from ongoing investigations into recent kidnapping incidents in parts of the state.

According to him, the operation took place in the early hours of May 18, 2026, when operatives tracked suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate to their hideout within the Ubulu-Okiti Forest axis.

Edafe alleged that the gang was linked to a series of kidnappings and other criminal activities in Ubuluku, Ubulu-Okiti, Issele-Uku, and neighbouring communities.

He stated that the suspects opened fire immediately security operatives stormed the forest camp, leading to a gun duel.

“The operatives responded with superior firepower,” he said, adding that one of the suspected kidnappers sustained fatal gunshot wounds while others escaped deeper into the forest with varying degrees of injuries.

During the operation, security personnel reportedly recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, alongside suspected criminal charms believed to belong to the gang members.

The injured suspect was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor.

The Command added that a comprehensive combing operation was ongoing across the forest and surrounding communities to apprehend fleeing suspects and recover additional weapons linked to the syndicate.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for what he described as bravery and professionalism during the operation.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-driven and community-based policing strategies aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating across the state.

Oyeniyi also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information to aid ongoing operations, assuring citizens that efforts were being intensified to protect lives and property in Delta State. (The Guardian)

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