Delta Police In Gun Battle With Kidnappers, Rescue 5 Worshipers Abducted From Ogwashi-uku’s Church

…Recovers N1.3m ‘ransom money’

Five members of Elyon Paradise Ministry Ogwashi-uku who were kidnapped while attending a night vigil service at the church, have been rescued.

This is coming barely few days after the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda took a decisive action by deploying tactical teams to troubled Ogwashi-uku community.

The victims where rescued unhurt, yesterday after the operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime squad, stormed Ubuluku forest where they were being held hostage.

State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe who confirmed this in a statement, said that the victims were unfortunately kidnapped on 22/2/2025 while attending the church service.

He said that following the CP directive with a clear mandate to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued unhurt, the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime Squad led by the Commander, CSP Labe Joseph had embarked on a sting operation alongside members of Ubuluku community vigilante, and other concerned indigenes of Ubuluku community.

Consequently, on 25th February 2025, “the operatives stormed Ubuluku forest where the victims were being held hostage The kidnappers on sighting the Police engaged the Police in a fierce gun duel but they could not withstand the superior firepower of the Police, they took to their heels and abandoned the victims.

“All five of the Kidnapped members of Elyon Paradise ministry were rescued unhurt and have since reunited with their families.

“Exhibits recovered from the scene include thirteen rounds of expended cartridges, a bag containing the sum of One Million, three hundred thousand naira (N1,300,000) suspected to be ransom money. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing”.

Commenting on the operation, the CP commended the gallantry of the operatives and the resilience of good-spirited members of Ubuluku community vigilantes and indigenes which includes some human rights activists who took it upon themselves to follow the Police into the bush during the rescue operation.