The Delta State Police Command has successfully apprehended a suspected member of a notorious interstate kidnapping syndicate.
State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, made the disclosure to journalists on Monday in Warri, stating that the suspect, a 30-year-old man, was arrested on May 20 by operatives attached to the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team.
According to Edafe, the suspect is believed to be part of a criminal gang responsible for a series of kidnappings across Delta, Rivers, Imo, and Enugu states.
He further revealed that the individual is based in the Woji area of Port Harcourt and is alleged to coordinate the gang’s activities, particularly along the Ughelli-Ozoro route.
Following his arrest, the suspect reportedly cooperated with investigators and led the team to a forest in Ozoro, where a cache of weapons belonging to the syndicate was uncovered.
“Acting on credible information and building on the momentum of an earlier breakthrough, the police operatives on May 20, arrested another suspected kidnapper,” Edafe stated.
“This arrest is directly linked to an earlier operation where three members of the gang were apprehended and dangerous weapons recovered from them.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect who admitted coordinating the syndicate operating on the Ughelli-Ozoro axis led the team to a forest in Ozoro,” he added.
Among the items recovered during the operation were two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, and 32 rounds of live ammunition.
SP Edafe further noted that the command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the kidnapping syndicate.