Delta Police Busts Militants Who Abducted Foreign Missionaries, Parades 14 Others

Niger Delta Militants

The Delta State Police Command on Tuesday says it has apprehended the five-man gang of militants who kidnapped four white missionaries in Enukorowa creek in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta state.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Zanna while parading the suspects disclosed that the victims, identified as Dr. David Donavan and his wife Chilly Donavan, Alana (surname unknown) and Iyan (surname unknown), were abducted on 13 October, 2017, at about 2 am by the suspected militants.

He said the victims had been engaged in preaching and giving free medical treatment in the area for the past three years before the attack.

Zanna Ibrahim said intelligence revealed that “the kidnap may not be unconnected with present onslaught on militant activities embarked upon by the military code – named Operation Crocodile Smile”.

According to the CP the arrested suspects have been proferring vital information and the police is intensifyng efforts in conjunction with the Joint Task Force (JTF) towards ensuring that the victims were rescued, while manhunt for the leader of the Karowei militants and kidnapping gang has been intensified.

CP Zanna Ibrahim revealed that the leader of the Karowei gang was also the mastermind of the kidnap plot of the mother of the majority whip of the Delta state house of Assembly, Hon. Preyor.

Similar, he disclosed that on 17, October 2017, one Mrs. Ekpongbolo Preyor was kidnapped by unknown gun men who dressed in camouflage uniform armed with AK 47 rifle.

The victim was rescued unhurt while six suspects of the Karowei gang have been arrested in connection with the case and have all made useful statement to the police.

In another development, the CP said police operatives acting on a tip off, tracked the phone of a kidnapped victim, Mr. Emeka Chimaokwu, who was kidnapped by unknown armed men along Idumuje Unor road, Issele-uku.

The phone was found with the leader of the gang, one Nyale Mohammed from Kano state but raised in Kogi state, who confessed to the crime and mentioned his gang members.

Based on his confessional statement, the second suspect Halilu Ishaku from Kaduna state also raised in Kogi state was also arrested and he admitted to the crime.

Both suspects led the investigating team to the bush where the decomposing remains of the victim was found where it was hidden behind bamboo leaves inside a forest at Atuma Quarters, Idumuje-unor.

The corpse has been deposited at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for autopsy.

In a case of conspiracy and murder, one Nnamdi Mohanye of No. 3 Onye Street, off NYSC Camp road, Issele-Uku, reported at Issele-Uku Divisional Police Headquarters, that the Manager of his Filling Station (Bukinn-Moore Petrol Filling Station) along Benin/Asaba Expressway, Issele-Uku, one Chibueze Okocha aged 40yrs was found dead behind the filling station.

According to Mohanye, the only guard on duty, one Friday Miri had suddenly absconded with his belongings overnight to faraway Langtang in Plateau State.

The CP said the police swung into action and arrested the guard in Langtang Plateuu state who confessed to strangling the manager and carting away the day’s sale with his wife and another male suspect connected to the murder and theft at the flling station and they have made confessional statements admitting that they committed the crime.

Ibrahim, however assured Deltans that his command has adopted intelligence measures to secure life and properties during the ‘ember’ months.

He disclosed that the command has put several measures in place to curb the menace of criminal activities in the state. He pleaded with the public not to hesitate in giving out useful information that will help the police during the ‘ember’ months.

He added that his men have been deployed for 24 hours surveillance around all financial institutions across the state to frustrate the activities of ATM thieves and other criminals who target banks.

The CP advised communities to clear overgrown trees along highways to prevent them from serving as criminal hideouts and to help motorists to have a clear view on the highways. He tasked every community to have a robust policing partnership with the security agencies and to ensure peace in their communities.

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