Syndicate Busted in Delta as Police Arrest Five Who Abducted Passengers in February

The Delta state police command has arrested five suspected kidnappers who allegedly participated in the abduction of some passengers along the Warri–Sapele Road by Adeje Community in February.

The incident which occurred February 1, 2026, culminated with the rescue of the remaining victims and arresting of key members of the notorious syndicate, as well as recovery of firearms.

Giving a graphic background of the incident, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe in a statement on Friday, said that the incident was reported on February 4, 2026 following the abduction of a group of travellers who were ambushed by armed hoodlums.

Police revealed that the assailants, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, forcefully took the victims into the bush.

Two of the victims were said to have managed to escape and promptly raised alarm, triggering a coordinated response involving the Police, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilantes.

The police disclosed that sustained pressure from the joint security team forced the kidnappers to abandon the remaining victims, who were subsequently rescued unhurt.

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Edafe in the statement, disclosed that acting swiftly on credible intelligence, operatives of Orerokpe Division arrested one Dafiaga Timothy on the same day, 4 February 2026, while attempting to withdraw money using one of the victim’s ATM cards at a POS point in Adeje Community.

Subsequently, the DPO Orerokpe Division was directed to transfer the case to CP-Special Assignment Team for discreet and further investigation.

The police image maker said that following sustained interrogation and technically generated intelligence, on 31 March 2026, operatives arrested additional members of the syndicate, including Samuel Omonigho, 31 in Kokori Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, and Henry Christmas, 22 in Adeje Community, Okpe Local Government Area.

He said that further breakthrough were recorded on April 5, when operatives arrested two more members of the syndicate, namely Ovo Wilson Junior, also known as “Sheboy”, 24, in Mereje Community, Okpe Local Government Area, and Emakpo Ubiaro Abel, 36, in Ughwagba Community, Okpe Local Government Area.

Police investigation revealed that Emakpo Ubiaro Abel is a tricycle rider who allegedly conveys the gang members to and from their operational locations.

According to the statement, on 13 April 2026, operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team, acting on information obtained during interrogation, carried out a follow-up operation at a hideout located at Oka Junction, Agbarho, and a thorough search led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of live ammunition and one locally made gun with seven live cartridges.

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The syndicate has been linked to series of kidnapping and armed robbery incidents across Warri, Sapele, Agbarho, Ughelli, and adjoining areas, Edafe said in the statement.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, in his remarks, commended the synergy between security agencies and the vigilance of community members which contributed to the success of the operations.