……..Recover one beretta pistol, four rounds of live ammunition, one pump action,nine rounds of cartridges, and one locally revolver pump action
Emmanuel lkpeama
Operatives of the Delta Police Command have killed a suspected kidnapper and arrest three other suspected kidnappers, who engaged security operatives in a gun duel in Ewu community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta state.
The suspects Tony Binitie,aka “BOBO” 29 years of age of Big-Warri Community in Warri South LGA Delta, who is the syndicate’s Gang Leader,Ejiro Ewuba 30years old,a native of Uwelogbo community in Isoko LGA of Delta State resident at Owumi Road Sapele and Ayuba Hussaini 38yrs a resident of Hausa quarters Sapele were arrested by the operatives led by ASP Julius Robinson after an intelligence report.
Speaking to newsmen, the Police image maker,SP Edafe Bright on Wednesday,14th August,2024 stated that an investigation with a previously apprehended suspect, Joel Ofoye.saw the operatives trail the hoodlums to Ewu community in pursuit of a notorious gunrunner supplying arms to the kidnapping syndicate.
He said ” At about 0430hrs operatives of CP Special Squad with base in Ughelli while on investigation alongside a suspected kidnapper Joel Ochuko Ofoye ‘m’ who was earlier arrested on 18/7/2024, the suspect led the operatives to Ewu community in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State in the trail of a gun runner who supply arms to them before their kidnapping operation. While they were at it, the team came under attack by the suspect’s gang members in a bid to free the said Joel Ochuko. The hoodlums were overpowered by the Police as they fled with bullet injuries but the suspect Joel Ochuko Ofoye was hit during the gun duel, and he was taken to general hospital Ughelli where he died while receiving treatment. One Beretta Pistol with four (4) rounds of live ammunition, one pump action with nine (9) rounds of cartridges, and one locally fabricated revolver pump action was recovered, manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”he said.
SP Edafe went further to state weapons and ammunition which include one Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with nine cartridges, and a locally fabricated revolver, was recovered the kidnappers, noting that the police intensified its efforts on a kidnapping syndicate following the abduction of a 29-year-old victim in Kokori Community, Ethiope East LGA, on February 17, 2024.
He noted that the victim which name is withheld, was kidnapped at his residence in Sapele and had N5 million transferred from his bank account by the kidnappers and upon regaining his freedom, the victim reported the incident to the police command.
“The victim after regaining his freedom, reported to the Command,and the Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda directed the CP’s special squad to investigate and ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to book. The operatives led by ASP Julius Robinson acting on available information provided by the kidnapped victim embarked on a technically driven investigation, stormed Sapele town on 11/08/2024 at about 0430hrs and raided the apartment of one Sapiro, real name unknown and upon search a Beretta Pistol was recovered in his room, his gang members Tony Binitie m” 29 yrs aka “BOBO” of Big-Warri Community in Warri South LGA Delta, who is the syndicate’s Gang Leader and one other co – gang member by name Ejiro Ewuba ‘m’ 30yrs a native of Uwelogbo community in Isoko LGA of Delta State resident at Owumi Road Sapele also arrested was one Ayuba Hussaini ‘m’ 38yrs a resident of Hausa quarters Sapele town the receiver of the victim’s jewelries / phones valued at millions of Naira whom investigation also revealed to have received One Million Naira ( # 1, 000, 000 ) transfered into his account from the victim’s account and also linked to have received victims valuables from various syndicates both the three(3) suspects confessed to the act meanwhile effort to arrest other gang members as investigation is ongoing.” He submitted.
In another development,the police command arrested five suspected cultists to be members pf the black axe confraternity and three locally made cut-to-size guns, one battle axe twelve live cartridges, seven expended cartridges eight phones, and two cross bags were recovered from them.
Investigator news reports that on Monday,5th August,2024,a complaint was received by Ofuoma division that some suspected cultists gathered at Ovine hotel Afiesere and later went to Ogbovwan community and shot sporadically as doors and windows were shattered with bullets.
The suspects upon sighting the police took their heels in different location, five suspects were arrested and e fforts to arrest the other fleeing suspects are ongoing.
It will be recalled that the commissioner of Police Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has warned sternly that criminally minded individuals will not be allowed to thrive in the State and adequate deployments have been made to ensure that they are identified, arrested and brought to book.
The CP went further to urged members of the public to always trust and report cases to the police, and also pointed out the fact that these suspected kidnappers were arrested six months after the kidnap because the victim trusted the Police and made available all useful information which eventually led to their arrest.
