ASABA/Nigeria: A 48-year-old woman held by suspected kidnappers was rescued unhurt after security operatives confronted her captors in a gun battle at Ovade Forest in Delta State.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, ANIPR, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, September 24, detailing the operation and other security interventions carried out by the Command between September 19 and 23.
The rescue followed a distress call over the abduction of the woman, whose identity was withheld by the police. The Divisional Police Officer, Oghara Division, subsequently led a team comprising police operatives, members of the Quick Response Squad, vigilantes and hunters into the forest to locate her.
According to the police account, the team encountered about four suspected kidnappers during the operation. A gunfight reportedly followed, forcing the suspects to retreat and leave the victim behind.
The woman was subsequently rescued without injury and taken into police care. The Command said she was stable and undergoing debriefing as efforts continued to track down the fleeing suspects.
The police said the pursuit of the fleeing suspects resulted in one unidentified suspect being found lifeless, while another suspect, identified as Abubakhar Sani, was apprehended with gunshot injuries.
Both men were later taken to a hospital, where they were confirmed dead, according to the Command.
A dagger, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, an OPay Verve card, a Tecno mobile phone and other personal effects were recovered during the operation, the police said.
While the forest operation was focused on securing the kidnapped woman, the Command also reported a series of anti-cultism operations that resulted in the arrest of 54 suspects in different parts of the state.
At Eku on September 19, operatives of the Abraka Division, supported by personnel of the State Intelligence Department and local vigilantes, raided what police described as a suspected cult initiation gathering.
The police said preliminary investigation indicated that the gathering was allegedly linked to the initiation of new members into the Black Axe Confraternity. The suspects were subsequently transferred to the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Sector 2, Ozoro, for further investigation.
Information obtained during the investigation reportedly led CACU operatives to Obiaruku on September 20, where another 20 suspects were arrested over alleged involvement in cult-related activities.
The group comprised 15 males and five females, with the police saying investigations were continuing to establish the individual involvement of the suspects.
In another operation at Ubulu-Uku, four male suspects were arrested on September 20 in connection with a suspected cult-related killing.
The suspects were identified as Okwudili Ozah, 34; Chekwube Onwuka, 18; Onyebe Emmanuel, 19; and Ozoremenem Izuchukwu, 21. Police said they were suspected members of the Supreme Vikings and Eiye confraternities.
They were transferred to CACU operatives in Asaba for further investigation.
Police also recovered a locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge and a quantity of substance suspected to be cannabis during the operation.
The victim of the suspected killing was taken to a medical facility, where he was confirmed dead. His remains were subsequently deposited at a mortuary for autopsy as investigators continued efforts to establish the circumstances of the death and the individual roles of the suspects.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, commended the police personnel and other security stakeholders involved in the operations.
Erale said the Command would sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes, while urging residents to continue providing information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime.
The Command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects connected with the Ovade Forest incident and to conclude investigations into the cult-related cases.
