‘Sapiro’, Others In Police Net After A Major Crack Down On Kidnapping Gang In Delta

In a daring raid, the police in Delta state have raided the apartment of a suspected kidnapper in Sapele town, recovering a Beretta pistol during the operation.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the suspect, known only by his alias “Sapiro,” was found with the weapon following credible intelligence, with his gang members – Tony Binitie, (29) aka “BOBO”, Ejiro Ewuba (30), and Ayuba Hussaini (38) also arrested.

The suspects who were arrested on 11th of August were said to have confessed to their crimes during interrogation, according to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda S. Olufemi, who briefed journalists of the development on Thursday.

He said that the police are still working to apprehend other members of the gang.

He said that the Police Anti-Crime patrol team of Oghara Division while on stop and search duty along Otefe Ijomi community road, on 14th August, also arrested a 22 year old boy, Ovoke Benedict and one Fredrick Urhoborume, 23 for being in possession of firearms.

The police had intercepted a motorcycle carrying the duo which was subjected to a search during which one locally made cut-to-size gun with six (6) live cartridges was recovered from them.

Police investigators, said they are suspected to be members of arrow barger confraternity.

In an earlier operation which occurred on 12th August, operatives of the CP’s Special Squad while investigating a suspected kidnapper Joel Ochuko Ofoye who was earlier arrested on 18 July, recovered one Baretta Pistol with four (4) rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine (9) rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action.

The recovery came after the arrested suspect, Joel who later lost his life in the operation, led the operatives to Ewu community in Ughelli South LGA of the State on the trail of a gun runner who supply arms to them.

While they were on his trail, the team came under attack by the suspect’s gang members in a bid to free the said Joel Ochuko.

But the police was said to have overpowered the hoodlums as they fled with bullet injuries. The suspect Joel, according to police account, was hit during the gun duel, and he was taken to General Hospital Ughelli where he died while receiving treatment.

The CP, equally recounted how its personnel foiled attempt by suspected kidnappers to invade Delta State Polytechnic Oghara during their recently held graduation ceremony.

He said that police had on 13th August 2024, received credible information that some suspected kidnappers had planned to invade the institution and kidnap guest during the graduation ceremony.

But on getting the intel, he directed the DPO Oghara to intensify effort and ensure that the suspects are arrested and their intentions foiled.

The DPO, according to him, led operatives of Oghara division to their hideout in a bush along Otefe/Ovade Legit Road where the suspected kidnappers on sighting the police took to their heels but not without various degrees of gunshot injuries.

The CP disclosed that while combing the forest, one AK-47 Riffle, one magazine, one English pump action gun, and one locally made cut-to-size gun were recovered.

He disclosed the recovery of a large cache of weapons, including four AK-47 rifles, 138 ammunition/cartridges, eight pump action guns, 15 cut-to-size guns, and five Beretta pistols between July, August and September, this year from various operations of the police in the state.

He, therefore announced increased security measures to prevent a surge in crime during the ember months.

The measures, he said would includes increased policing, raids on criminal hideouts, and a call for the public to report any incidents to the police.