The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of five suspected kidnappers and the recovery of a ₦5 million ransom, following a series of coordinated operations across the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Asaba, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, revealed that six other suspects were fatally injured during separate shootouts with police operatives acting on intelligence.
The operations, launched under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, were part of an intensified offensive to dismantle kidnap syndicates operating in the state.
According to Edafe, one of the major breakthroughs occurred on July 12, 2025, when officers from the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, led by CSP Godwin Osadolor, stormed a kidnap den in Ogwashi-Uku, Oshimili North Local Government Area.
The suspect, identified as Sanusi Abdulahi, was found in possession of ₦5 million, believed to be part of a ransom paid by a recent kidnapping victim. Investigations have linked Abdulahi and his gang to a string of abductions across Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Obulu-Okiti, Issele-Uku, and Issele-Asagba, including the abduction of a young woman in Ogwashi-Uku on July 9.
Following his arrest, Abdulahi led officers to two other hideouts at Second Deputy and Oko in Asaba, resulting in the arrest of four additional suspects.
In another operation on July 9, operatives from the CP’s Special Assignment Team raided a hideout near the Unenurhie axis along the Patani–Ughelli Expressway. The location was believed to be a base for a notorious kidnap syndicate led by Solomon Danisco, alias Picolo, and his accomplices.
The suspects engaged the police in a fierce gun duel. Six gang members sustained gunshot wounds and later died in the hospital, while two others are currently receiving treatment under police watch.
Weapons recovered from the scene include four locally fabricated firearms and 19 rounds of live ammunition.
Commissioner Abaniwonda reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents, vowing that the police will intensify their efforts to eliminate all forms of violent crime in the state.
“These arrests and recoveries are a clear indication of our resolve to rid Delta State of criminal elements. We will not relent in our duty to protect lives and property,” Edafe stated.
