‎Operatives of Delta State Police Command have recorded some breakthroughs in the fight against violent crime, with the rescue of a kidnapped victim and the arrest of five suspects in separate operations involving kidnapping and cult-related murder.

‎One fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine and two rounds of live ammunition were recovered at the scene where an unnamed 25-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted and held hostage, and the suspect, Brotugbare Onome, was arrested.‎

‎This was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Sunday.

‎The statement read, “On October 3, 2026, at about 0830hrs, the Divisional Police Officer, Out-Jeremi Division, acting on credible intelligence shared by the DPO Ovwian-Aladja Division, mobilised operatives to Usiefrun Community, where a 25-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted and held hostage.

‎”The victim was rescued, while the main suspect, identified as Brotugbare Francis Onome ‘m’, aged 29 years, was arrested.

‎”A search of the premises led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine and two rounds of live ammunition. Investigation is ongoing.”

‎In a similar development, on October 1, 2026, at about 5:30 pm, the Abraka Division received a report concerning an alleged conspiracy to kidnap a woman in the Abraka area of the state.

‎”Following credible intelligence, Endurance Akpade ‘m’, aged 37 years, and Edwin Friday Morgan ‘m’, aged 43 years, were apprehended by operatives of Abraka Division alongside members of civilian anti-cult operatives and subsequently taken into Police custody,” the statement partly read.

‎The Command’s spokesperson disclosed that the suspects are presently assisting with the ongoing investigation.

“‎Also on October 1, 2026, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on credible intelligence gotten from a video that went viral of some suspected cultists celebrating the murder of another suspected cultists, stormed a suspected criminal hideout in Oghara and arrested the duo of Ezekiel Sunday Izomor ‘m’, aged 23 years, and Emmanuel Ogaganefe ‘m’, aged 23 years, in connection with the cult-related killing of a 25-year-old man identifed as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market, Ethiope West LGA, on 24th March 2026,” Edafe added.

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

‎The statement read further, “Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the fleeing suspects, identified as Collins, was vying to be the number one man in Aro Bagger Confraternity and needed to murder a rival cult member for him to achieve his goal.

‎”The said Collins connived with the two suspects and one Richman, who is a very close friend to the victim, Godfrey. Richman and Collins are at large, but efforts to arrest them are in top gear.

‎”The arrested suspects are in custody, assisting with the investigation”.

‎Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, has commended the operatives “for their swift response and effective intelligence sharing.

‎The police boss reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and the fight against kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to the police.

‎The CP also admonished the youths to “stay away from cultism”, noting that it’s a catalyst that will destroy their future. (The Nation)

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