Operatives of the Delta State Police Command, in a decoy operation, arrested eight members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Oghara, Sapele, Warri, and environs.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, and posted on its official X handle on Thursday.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, asked officers in the decoy squad to use all technically generated intelligence to apprehend the criminals after receiving information about a 43-year-old woman who was abducted and paid a N2 million ransom for her release.
The statement read, “The command received information relating to the kidnapping of a 43-year-old woman (name withheld), who was kidnapped by a syndicate of armed men in a tricycle along Shell Road Sapele on November 19, 2023, at about 2100 hours, while driving in her ML-350 Mercedez Benz.
“The victim was taken in her vehicle, and until the vehicle ran out of fuel, they moved her into their operational tricycle. She was released on November 22, 2023, upon payment of a N2 million ransom.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, detailed the operatives of the CP-Decoy Squad, led by the commander, ASP Julius Robinson, directing that they utilize all technically generated intelligence to get the perpetrators of the act.
“Consequently, on November 25, 2023, the team embarked on a sting operation assisted by the DPO Sapele, which led to the arrest of the syndicate’s gang leader, Morrison Godwin, a 41-year-old male suspect from Okpara Water Side Community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State at Amukpe Area of Sapele Town at about 1100 hours of the same date.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and revealed an intended meeting with other gang members to strategize on another kidnapping operation.
“Armed with this information, the team laid an ambush at their meeting point on November 27, 2023, and arrested the other gang members, viz: Raymond Etchie’m’ 46 years old, who negotiated and received the said ransom; Felix Okoro’m’ 40 years old, who is one of the syndicate’s operational drivers; Oghene Ogaga Sylvester’m’ 45 years old, who guarded the victim; Henry Edeki’m’ 35 years old; Ominike Sunday’m’ 23 years old; Jerusalem Sunday’m’ 35 years old; and Theophilus Akpofi’m” 9 years old.”
According to the statement, all of the suspects confessed to the crime, admitting their various roles, and were recognized by the victim.
During questioning, the suspects also revealed the location of the victim’s vehicle, which was later discovered in Oghara Town, and efforts are being made to retrieve the syndicate’s operational weaponry.
The state commissioner of police praised the decoy squad for their diligence in apprehending the kidnappers.
He also informed the public that more accomplishments are on the way as the command works to safeguard Delta State’s collective safety.
