CP Ari Muhammed Ali
* Arrest suspect
* Recover AK 47 assault rifle with live ammo
By Jon Egie
A 63 year old kidnap victim, name withheld, has been rescued by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.
A member of the kidnap gang, Davidson Odigho, ‘m’, aged 26 of Irri community in Isoko South LGA has also been arrested by the police and helping in investigation that could lead to the arrest of other fleeing members of the gang.
A release issued by the Command’s PPRO, Bright Edafe, today said on Tuesday November 30, at about 2200hrs, acting on information received from a motorcyclist, that a lady (Name withheld), aged 63yrs of Ughelli town was seen with two boys armed with machetes in an isolated place along Irri-Aviara Community Road and suspected them to be kidnappers.
“The DPO Oleh Division, SP Paul Oboware, swiftly mobilized and led Police patrol teams in a combined effort with Irri vigilante and cordoned the surrounding bushes.
“The hoodlums on sighting the police, abandoned the victim and escaped into the bush. Investigation later revealed that the victim was kidnapped four days earlier, Friday, November 26 at about 1830hrs at Olori Road Ughelli, on her way home.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, CP Ari Muhammed Ali FCIA, PSC(+) mandated the DPO to ensure that those hoodlums were brought to book.
“In compliance with the directive of the CP, the DPO Oleh division embarked on an intelligence led investigation. Police Operatives and vigilante were strategically deployed for the purpose of getting useful information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution.
“Consequently, it paid off as on Thursday, December 2, at about 2143hrs, the DPO received another distressed call from the vigilante deployed around Irri Roundabout, Oleh, that some hoodlums were sighted near the roundabout and operating in a white Toyota Hilux without registration number.
The suspects, it was reported, made an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap a man who just returned from Europe.
It was learnt ensuing disagreement among the suspects prompted the residents in the area to become suspicious and alerted the vigilante.
The DPO Oleh again led a combined team of Police operatives/vigilante to the area in a carefully planned operation which led to the arrest of one of the suspects named Davidson Odigho ‘m’ aged 26yrs of Irri community in Oleh while other members of the gang escaped in the white hilux.
Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being part of the gang that kidnapped the 63-year-old woman on and abandoned her when they noticed that the police were closing in on them.
Suspect led police operatives to his house where one Ak 47 rifle, nineteen (19) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one magazine, one pump action gun and twenty- six (26) live cartridges concealed in a sack bag and buried in the compound were recovered.
Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.
The CP while appreciating the efforts of all stake holders in the fight against crimes and criminality also admonished Deltans to be law abiding and always give credible information to the police for a safer Delta state.
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