Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have rescued a 63-year-old kidnapped female victim and arrested a member of the kidnapping gang that abducted her.
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect, Davidson Odigho, was arrested while he alongside his gang were attempting to kidnap a man who recently returned from Europe.
“On the 30/11/2021, at about 2200hrs, acting on information received from a motorcyclist that a lady (name withheld), age 63yrs of Ughelli town was seen with two boys armed with machetes in an isolated place along Irri-Aviara community road and suspects them to be kidnappers,” he stated.
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 on the 26/11/2021 at about 1830hrs at Olori road Ughelli on her way home.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali mandated the DPO to ensure that the hoodlums are 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 getting useful information with a view to seeing that these hoodlums are arrested and brought to book.
“Consequently, it paid off as on the 02/12/2021 at about 2143hrs, he 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
He further stated that in an attempt to kidnap one man (name withheld) who recently returned from Europe, disagreement ensued among themselves which made residents in the area who became suspicious to alert the vigilante.
The gallant 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 30/11/2021 and abandoned her when they noticed that the police were closing in on them.
The 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.
DSP Edafe added that 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 admonish Deltans to be law abiding and always give credible information to the police for a safer Delta state.
