(DDM) – The Delta State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in its ongoing operations against kidnapping and violent crimes across the state, confirming the rescue of five abducted victims, the arrest of 77 suspects, and the recovery of ₦4.1 million in ransom, alongside 13 firearms and 591 rounds of ammunition.
In a detailed statement obtained by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) on Wednesday, Commissioner of Police CP Abaniwonda Olufemi said the coordinated operations were conducted throughout the month of October, focusing on flashpoints around Warri, Ekpan, and the Ubeji community.
According to the Commissioner, the tactical teams acted on credible intelligence that led to the dismantling of several criminal hideouts.
In one operation, police operatives arrested a notorious arms dealer, Ahmed Ibrahim, aged 31, alongside his female accomplice, Jamila Abubakar, recovering large quantities of ammunition believed to have been supplied to gangs operating in the Warri axis.
Olufemi revealed that the command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad and Crack Surveillance Unit also rescued victims held in different parts of the state after days of strategic tracking and negotiation.
The victims were safely reunited with their families following medical evaluation.
“The Delta State Police Command remains committed to ridding our communities of violent crime,” CP Olufemi said.
“These arrests and rescues are proof that our intelligence-driven policing strategy is working. We will sustain aggressive patrols and surveillance across all high-risk areas.”
The Commissioner also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities through the command’s dedicated emergency lines. He reiterated that public cooperation remains vital in the fight against crime, especially as the festive season approaches.
Security analysts told DDM that the scale of the October operation signals a renewed push by the Delta State Command to curb the growing menace of kidnapping-for-ransom and illegal arms trade in the oil-rich region.
They noted that Warri and its environs have long been hotspots for armed gangs and cult-related violence, often linked to the black-market arms supply chain.
Meanwhile, residents of Ubeji and Ekpan have lauded the police crackdown, describing it as “long overdue” and calling for consistent community-police collaboration to sustain peace in the area.
The Delta Police Command has pledged that all arrested suspects will be prosecuted after investigations are concluded, assuring the public that no effort will be spared in ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the state.