
CP Abaniwonda Olufemi
By John Egie
A special operation unit of the Delta State Police Command, Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team, CP SAT, deployed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi to combat the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers at the Ughelli and Warri axis of the state has gunned down five associate members of a kidnap gang that terrorized the area.
Three ring leaders of the gang have also been arrested and in custody.
Leader of the CP SAT, ASP Julius Robinson had upon intelligence report mobilized Operatives of the team and trailed a suspect named Adamu Abubakar ‘m’ popularly known as Dogo who is alleged to be the leader of a kidnap syndicate at DSC Roundabout in Warri, last week Friday, March 21.
The arrest and interrogation of Dogo led to the arrest of two other suspects, Abubakar Mohammed popularly known as ‘Chede’ and Mohammed Bello at Otovwodo Motorpark in Ughelli Town.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the trio had been responsible for series of kidnappings and armed robbery activities in Uwiamuge-Agbarho, Otujeremi, Warri and Ughelli.
Based on their confessions the suspects led Operatives to their hideout in Uvwiamuge Bush where their hidden weapons which include one AK-47 assault rifle, one pump action gun, three locally made guns, two magazines, 60 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, and 17 rounds of live cartridges were recovered.
As the police team and suspects came out of the bush, a group of hoodlums suspected to be associates of the kidnap gang engaged the Operatives in a shootout.
In the resulting exchange of gunfire as the police tackled the challenge, five of the hoodlums were gunned down while others escape.
The wounded hoodlums were taken to the hospital for treatment where they later died, according to a release issued by the Command’s PPRO, SP Edafe Bright.
Investigation on the case is ongoing, the release added.