Delta Police Recover N4.1m Ransom, Arrest 77 Suspects in October Operations

The Delta State Police Command has recovered ₦4.1 million ransom from a kidnapping syndicate operating across Delta and neighbouring Anambra State.

The command also rescued five kidnapped victims, arrested 77 suspects, and recovered 13 firearms, 591 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, as well as three vehicles in various operations conducted in October 2025.

Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, disclosed this on Wednesday while reviewing the command’s monthly operational achievements at the Police Headquarters in Asaba.

According to him, the ₦4.1 million ransom was traced and recovered after the kidnap of two persons in Oduke, Asaba, on October 3, 2025.

Police operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit trailed a 60-year-old suspect, Ndianefo Cypre, to Isieke Village in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where his bank account had been used to collect the ransom.

He said another suspect, 49-year-old Onwe Sunday, was arrested in Ihiala with ₦1.5 million — part of the ransom money — in his possession.

“Following the confessions of the two suspects, another accomplice, Uzoma Ifeanyi Chukwu, was arrested in Nnewi, Anambra State, and part of the ransom, amounting to ₦2.6 million, was recovered from him,” Abaniwonda said.

The commissioner added that three male victims kidnapped in Jeddo community, under the Ekpan Division, were successfully rescued and reunited with their families, while seven suspects linked to the crime are now in custody.

“On 30th October 2025 at about 1140hrs, the DPO Ekpan Division received a distress report of a suspected kidnapping incident at Ubeji Community.

“Acting on the report, the DPO deployed a team of detectives and patrol operatives to the scene.

“On sighting the approaching police teams, the suspected kidnappers fled into an abandoned poultry house within the same community.

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“The Police cordoned the area, leading to the arrest of the following suspects: Felix Omone ’m’, aged 33 years, Solomon Omone ‘m’, aged 29, Tony Eboye ‘m’, 34, Omone David (m, 32), Jerry Omone (m, 33), Godspower Omone (m, 25), Edewho Bomele (m, 33),” he said.

He said efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing accomplices in the crime and recover any weapons or equipment used in the operation.

Similarly, a housewife abducted when armed men broke into her family apartment regained freedom as operatives from Ovian Aladja Police station trailed the kidnappers.

“On 12/10/2025 at about 1400 hrs, the DPO Ovian Aladja Police station received a distress call from a man (name withheld ) that on the same date at about 0200hrs, while they were sleeping, armed men broke into his apartment, attacked, robbed and kidnapped his wife.

“The DPO mobilised and led operatives of the division on the trail of the kidnappers.

“Following unrelenting effort from the DPO and his men, the Kidnappers were forced to abandon the victim and escape.
“The victim was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with her family, while the manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.

“Also, a woman who was whisked away into the bush at Obinonba in Ukwuani council area on November 1 when armed men stopped the motorcycle conveying her has been rescued and reunited with her family.

“Acting swiftly on the report, DPO Obiaruku Division led a team of police operatives in collaboration with the local community Vigilante group on 2nd November 2025 at about 0520hrs, trailed the kidnappers into a thick forest at Obinomba community.

“On sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, which the team responded to decisively, leading to a fierce gun duel during which one of the suspects was fatally wounded.

“The victim was successfully rescued unhurt, while one AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and twelve (12) rounds of live ammunition were recovered.
“The injured suspect was taken to the hospital, but was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police have busted a hideout in Effurun GRA in Uwvie council area of the state, apprehending one 33-year-old Igwe Samson and 39-year-old Abalum Sunday, both of Ovie Palace road off Effurun Road, Warri axis of Delta State.

Cp Abaniwonda revealed that “upon search of his sienna vehicle 450 bottles of CSP codeine, 188 bottles of bargadine, 208 sachets of tramadol 100mg, 300 sachets of swinol.