Delta Police Arrest Kidnappers, Rescue 2-month-old Baby, Recover N3m Ransom

Operatives of the Ekpan Division of the Delta State Command, have apprehended a woman suspected of abducting a two-month-old baby in February while travelling from Koko to Warri in Warri North local government area of the state.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports the suspect, Mrs. Joy Temitope Oyetimi, 49, was arrested following an intelligence-led investigation initiated after a complaint from the baby’s parent.

State’s commissioner of police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda who addressed newsmen on Thursday in Asaba, said that the incident occurred when the victim’s wife, who was on a business trip from Koko to Warri, was allegedly drugged and her two-month-old baby stolen while she was incapacitated.

The suspect reportedly made away with the child who is now five months old. The baby has now been rescued and returned to his family.

Abaniwonda said, “On 7/4/2025 at about 1000hours, the DPO Ekpan Police station received a complaint that a woman (name withheld) aged 20yrs embarked on a business trip on 16th February 2025 with one Mrs. Joy from Koko to Warri Delta and that while they were on their way, Mrs. Joy drugged his wife via a juice, she slept off and the suspect made away with her two months old baby boy. Acting on his information, the DPO Ekpan Police station embarked on an intelligence-led investigation, trailed and arrested the suspect Mrs Joy Temitope Oyetimi ‘f’ aged 49yrs and after discreet interrogation, the suspects stated that indeed she was the one who stole the baby. The baby who is now five months old has been rescued and handed over to his parents”.

While saying that the suspect is currently in custody for further investigations, CP Abaniwonda, said that on Monday May 12, operatives of Dragon patrol team while conducting stop and search along Kwale/Ozoro express road, intercepted a gold colour Toyota Sienna bus loaded with passengers from Ughelli enroute Asaba.

“Upon search of the vehicle the sum of Three Million One Hundred Thousand Naira (#3,100,000) was recovered from four suspect namely; Abubakar Alwalu ‘m’ 25yrs, Usman Husseini ‘m’ 25yrs, Adamu Mohammed ‘m’ 30yrs and Anwalu Umaru ‘m’ 23yrs. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belong to a gang of five and were allegedly responsible for the kidnap of a lady at Ughelli in her house, held her captive for four days and collected a ransom of four million naira (#4,000,000) which was the sum on 11/05/2025. The victim has identified the four suspects. Investigation is ongoing”.

The operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), also on Saturday May 10, following credible intelligence trailed, and arrested a 22-year-old suspected kidnapper and gang leader named Abdullahi Ibrahim, of Ekenwa community in Ovia North-East LGA of Edo State at Ore town of Ondo State.

The suspect was said to have led the operative to the arrest of another 24-year-old suspect and member of his gang known as Adamu Usman of Abeokuta both taking refuge in Ore town.

The Police boss said that upon interrogation, the suspects led operatives to a forest along Ore-Lagos expressway by a popular area called “stepdown” where one AK 47 rifle loaded with fourteen rounds of live ammunition and a locally made long gun with its six rounds of live cartridges were recovered.

In the same vein, the Commander Special Anti-kidnapping and cyber-crime squad, arrested a 26-year-old suspect in connection to a kidnap incident at Itego community Ibusa where one man (name withheld) was kidnapped and an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom.

The Police Commissioner said that on Monday May 12, acting on credible intelligence relating to a kidnap incident at Itego community Ibusa where one man (name withheld) was kidnapped and an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom, the Commander Special Anti-kidnapping and cyber-crime squad, also swiftly mobilize operatives and stormed Koka junction Asaba where one of the suspects later identified as Lawal Tasiu 26yrs resident of FCT Abuja was arrested after a hot chase”.

“Upon search of the suspect, the sum of Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N900,000) was recovered from him. During Interrogation, the suspect stated that he is a member of a syndicate terrorizing Ibusa/Ogwashi-Uku/Issele-Azagbe environs and the money in his possession as part of his own share of ransom collected. On 13/05/2025 at about 0630hrs, the suspect led operatives to their hide out at Issele-Azagba area where one AK 47 rifle, one (1) pump action gun, two (2) AK 47 magazines, eighty-seven (87) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered”.