…Recovers Arms, Cash
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Delta State Police Command on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the Ughelli Police ‘A’ Division, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area, paraded ten persons suspected to be armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists.
Speaking while parading the suspects, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright disclosed that one of the suspects had being on the wanted list of security agents.
He said, “You will recall that when the CP was deployed to Delta State in February, 2024, we were faced with numerous challenges which includes cases of kidnapping and armed robbery particularly on the East West road.
“Upon resumption the CP accessed these challenges and took a very smart decision to deploy a Special Assignment Team, SAT, to Ughelli with a clear mandate to flush out kidnappers, armed robbery and ensure that Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Oghara and other parts of the State is calm so that members of the public can sleep with their two eyes closed.
“And for sometime now, we no longer record the cases of kidnapping like it use to be due to the wonderful strategy adopted by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda.
We are in Ughelli to brief on the arrest of one suspected kidnapper, armed robbers and recovery of an Ak-47 riffle.”
He said; “Acting on intelligence gathered on the activities of one suspect, Bakpo Isaiah who has being on the command wanted list for the past three years, that has been responsible for many kidnapping activities in the Amukpe-Sapele road, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team led by ASP. Robinson Julius, stormed their hideout in a sting operation in Sapele town.
Four suspects, Bakor Isaiah (34), Victor (31), Ogheneochuko Emmanuel (47) and Godspower Clifford and Bakor Isaiah who claimed to have stopped kidnapping activities, but he is the owner of the recoverd AK-47.
Victor claimed to be the number one man or jostling for the position of number one man of Vikings or Aro Bagger confraternity. He said that led him to acquire the AK-47 from Isaiah as one of the criteria to attain the position, hence he contacted Bakpo to purchase the gun from him.
He was in the process of buying the AK-47 from Bakpo for the sum of N1.3m when he was arrested by the team.”
Another incident was the case when kidnappers contacted one Timothy Ochuko to provide them an account and he approached a POS operator, deceived the POS Lady, and the kidnappers sent the ransom of N4m paid by the victim to her POS account and the balance of N500,000.
“While we were investigating, we raided his house and recover some weapons including one English made Beretta pistol and his gang members escaped.
“On the 17 of September, 2024, at about 14:00 hrs, the operatives of CP SAT, team, led by ASP Robinson Julius, on intelligence stormed Sapele and arrested one Oghenetega Ogbodu (34) who is a member of Vikings Confraternity and upon the search on his house, one AK-47 riffle, one G3 riffle and a fabricated long gun using a berreta like magazine were recovered.
“Another suspects Of Ijoyota aka Piccolo, (29), connected to Bakpo, was arrested and it was confessed that Bakor supplied him one of the AK-47 and upon the search on his resident, one AK-47 loaded with six round of live ammunition were recovered.”
Speaking further, SP Edafe Bright revealed that since the deployment of this team to Ughelli, the people has regained peace. The people in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele and Oghara can now sleep with their two eyes closed.
“Since their deployment to Ughelli probably in April, 2024, Seven AK-47 riffles has been recovered, one Ak-49 rifle, a G3 rifle, six pump action guns, Nine LMG gun, 16 Barreta Pistols, 35 rounds of live cartridges, 53 live ammunition and a total of N5.5 million and they have rescued three kidnapped victims in the cause of their operations, Edafe discloses.