Delta Police in Gun Duel with Kidnappers, Kill One, Bust Syndicate’s Key Actors

The State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU) of the Delta State Police Command, in collaboration with community volunteers, shot dead a suspected kidnapper after a gun battle in Obiaruku, Ukwuani local government area.

The suspect met his demise as police increased their intensive patrol in the area following credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers were gathering in the Obiaruku forest to carry out an attack.

SP Bright Edafe, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed this yesterday, saying that the police team was on patrol on December 1 when they received an intelligence report about their plan to invade the community.

Acting swiftly on the information, Edafe revealed that the operatives had advanced to the location to prevent the planned criminal activity.

On approaching the area, the suspects opened fire from multiple directions in a bid to repel the team, he added.

Edafe said that the operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the death of one suspect, while others escaped into the forest with various degrees of injuries.

One AK-47 rifle with forty-two rounds of live ammunition, nine mobile phones, and charms were recovered.

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In a related development, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by the Commander, ASP Julius Robinson, made a series of coordinated breakthroughs between November 28th and 29th, 2025, in ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks linked to theft, armed violence, and cult-related activities in Ughelli, Oghara, and Sapele.

According to Edafe, the team intercepted one of the syndicate’s key actors, Kelvin Oke, a 42-year-old man, and recovered a stolen tricycle in his possession.

More coordinated operations resulted in the arrest of two additional suspects: Victor Oyaye, a 26-year-old male from the Otor-Ogor community who was identified as the gang leader, and Monday Emakpo, a 31-year-old male from the Okpara community who lives in Agbara, Ughelli.

Another stolen tricycle and a locally made shotgun loaded with six live cartridges were found.

Building on this momentum, CP-SAT continued the offensive into the Oghara-Sapele axis, and on November 29, 2025, at approximately 2115 hours, operatives stormed the home of one Jeffery Saint, a 28-year-old male from Ogharake, Oghara.

The suspect attempted to evade arrest but was quickly apprehended. A thorough search of the premises revealed a locally fabricated Beretta pistol and fifteen rounds of live ammunition, which were concealed and ready for criminal use.

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Similarly, he revealed that on November 29, 2025, operatives of the Eagle Net Special Squad, led by SP Danyaya Inusa, were conducting a routine stop-and-search operation around the Northwest Filling Station near Mariam Babangida Junction on the Asaba-Benin Expressway when a seemingly routine traffic check turned into a dramatic chase.

The officers quickly closed in on the fleeing suspect, who was later identified as Ezekiel Edeya, a 28-year-old male from Emevor in Isoko North LGA.

A thorough search was carried out, resulting in the recovery of a red handbag that he had attempted to discard. The bag contained one locally made pistol, three live cartridges, an iron plier, and a screwdriver. The suspects are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

In his remarks, the CP, Olufemi Abaniwonda commended the operatives for their gallantry and appreciated stakeholders for trusting the police with information in crime fighting.