The Delta State Police Command says it has arrested suspected kidnappers operating in Delta, Rivers, Enugu, and Imo states and recovered AK-47 rifle.
According to a statement released in Asaba on Tuesday by the police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, a police special operations team successfully brought down a gang of suspected kidnappers believed to be behind several criminal activities across the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria.
The breakthrough came on May 16, 2025, when officers attached to the Commissioner of Police’s Special Assignment Team traced and arrested a suspect, 21-year-old Idirisu Yakubu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Yakubu, originally from Kwara State, resides in the Elelenwo area of the city.
Following his arrest, the team continued their operation and, on May 17, captured the alleged leader of the group, 40-year-old Bello Amodu, who is also a resident of the Elelenwo area. Amodu, from Tangaza LGA in Sokoto State, was identified as the mastermind coordinating various kidnapping cells across Delta, Rivers, Enugu, and Imo.
The investigation further led to the arrest of another suspect, Umar Mohammed Beto, aged 38. Beto hails from Tsamiya village in Kebbi State but resides in the Oil Mill area of Port Harcourt. He was identified as the head of the syndicate’s Enugu operations.
Following the suspects’ confession during interrogation, police were directed to a bush area along the Ughelli–Ozoro road in Delta State. There, officers recovered a loaded AK-47 rifle with 23 rounds of ammunition and a pump-action shotgun along with seven live cartridges.
In a separate operation, another police unit—the Eagle Net Surveillance Team based in Ughelli—apprehended a 53-year-old man named Benjamin Benemor at his residence in Warri South Local Government Area. A search of the home turned up a collection of weapons, including a Beretta pistol, several pump-action and locally made guns, a battle axe, and 15 live cartridges.
Meanwhile, the Rapid Response Squad intercepted a Jetta car along the Asaba-Benin Expressway and arrested two men: 49-year-old Blessing Ngbajime and 27-year-old Okpako Oghenhovo. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a fabricated Beretta pistol in Okpako’s possession.
All suspects are currently being interrogated, and further investigations are underway.
