The Delta State Police Command has announced the foiling of a planned kidnapping operation in the Upper Agbarho, Ughelli north local government area of the state, following a late-night gun duel that forced suspected kidnappers to flee, leaving behind high-calibre weapons and ammunition.
According to a press statement issued on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence, moved swiftly to intercept about six suspected kidnappers who were reportedly camped along a bush path in Upper Agbarho.
The operation, carried out at about 9:35 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, was executed in collaboration with local vigilante members and targeted an uncompleted building believed to be the gang’s hideout.
Police said the suspects opened fire immediately upon sighting the operatives, triggering a brief but intense exchange of gunfire.
Although the hoodlums managed to escape with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, officers overpowered them tactically, compelling their retreat and recovering a cache of dangerous weapons.
Items recovered include one FNC rifle loaded with a live round of ammunition and one pump-action gun with 32 rounds of live cartridges.
The weapons have since been taken into police custody, while a manhunt has been launched to track down the fleeing suspects.
While the successful recovery of firearms marks a tactical win for the police, the escape of the suspects has again raised concerns over the recurring pattern of armed criminals evading arrest despite intelligence-led operations.
Nonetheless, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, praised the bravery and professionalism of the CP-SAT operatives, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to choking criminal networks and maintaining pressure on violent groups operating across the state.
CP Adesola warned that Delta State would remain “hostile terrain” for kidnappers and armed criminals, assuring residents that sustained intelligence-driven operations would continue until all fleeing suspects are apprehended.
The police also urged members of the public to report anyone with suspicious injuries or movements, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to winning the fight against violent crime.
