On the 23rd May 2021, when the suspected kidnappers came with a speed boat as usual with the intention of causing mayhem and kidnapping unsuspecting victims, officers and men of Oghara Division in conjunction with local vigilante who had already put proactive measures in place, were on ground strategically positioned.
The Police operatives resisted fervently, engaged them in a gun duel. The suspected kidnappers who could not withstand the fire power of the police jump into the river and escaped with possible bullet injuries with one pump action gun with live cartridge recovered from them.
Serious effort to arrest and bring the fleeing suspects to book is ongoing.
The Ag. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright made the disclosure on Tuesday May 25th through a press release.
According to the image maker, “On 22nd May 2021, men of ‘B’ Division warri patrol team in conjuction with vigilante while on Aberdeen systematic patrol around Ogboro Street Warri, sighted three boys with a Baco bag.
The PPRO, said “The boys on sighting the police ran in different directions, the police men highlighted and gave them a hot chase.
“One Ufuoma Ekpete, 21 years was arrested, when search was conducted on him, a locally made barrel gun and one live cartridge was recovered. The suspect Ufuoma Ekpete led the police to arrest one Godday Ayamah who allegedly gave the suspect the said gun.
“He also led the police to their hideout, a dilapidated building along Arubaye Street where the other two suspects one Ebimo Richard and Emeka Okoye who earlier escaped, were arrested.
“Exhibit recovered includes one cutlass, one locally made barrel gun. Suspects confessed to be members of Senior and Junior Eye cult groups”, disclosing that investigation is ongoing.
Similarly, “Based on intelligence gathering and information received from good spirited individuals in Sapele, some notorious hideout for criminals were identified.
“Intelligence also revealed that most of the cult killings in the past in Sapele were traceable to these notorious and dreadful cartel known for hosting of cult meetings, sales of cannabis, cocaine and other variety of drugs.
“In a bid to rid Sapele and its environs of these bad elements, the battle was taken to the doorsteps of these criminals while in course of their operation. Promise cartel located in the reserved forest in the heart of Ogunja Quarters Sapele were raided.
“Four suspects Ebuka Onwudike, 25 years, Ismile Useni, 26 years, Oriole Omotuying, 29 years and Laju Solomon, 21 years all of Sapele were arrested. Thirty wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them.
“Also on arrival to Spanish cartel located at Ogunja Quarters Sapele all the hoodlums have already deserted the area to unknown destination, on hearing the ongoing operation because of it not too far from each other. However, effort is still on to track down the fleeing hoodlums”.
In another development, “On the 19th May 2021, while police operatives attached to safer high way patrol team were on stop and search duty along P.T.I Junction Warri.
“Complaint was received from one Ogaga surname unknown that some boys numbering about four robbed him and forcefully collected his phones and his ATM card, also they forced him to tell them the ATM Pin and went toward the direction of the nearest ATM machine, the police operative on receipt of this information went after the said suspects.
“They wee traced to a near by bank where they had already withdraw the sum of eighty thousand naira from the victim account. One of the suspect Daniel Samuel of Jakpa road Effurun, Warri was arrested. The Victim identified him as one of the suspects who robbed him, he also identified his ATM card.
Meanwhile the tricycle with reg. EHR 433 LR used by the suspects have been recovered. One Daniel Tenebe of Orerokpe who claimed to be the owner of the tricycle have also been arrested.
