The Delta State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in separate operations across the state, recovering firearms and other criminal exhibits.
The breakthrough was confirmed in an official statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.
According to the statement, police on June 23, at about 3:00 p.m., received a report concerning the arrest of two suspects linked to an attempted robbery.
Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects unlawfully entered a residential compound but fled after noticing the presence of occupants.
Edafe said the vigilance and swift action of community members led to the arrest of the suspect and an accomplice, who were subsequently handed over to the police.
“Acting on intelligence obtained during preliminary investigation, operatives of the Ugborikoko Division searched the suspects’ residence, resulting in the recovery of a locally made pistol concealed inside a wardrobe,” the statement read.
The suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations continue to determine their involvement in other criminal activities.
In a separate operation, operatives of the ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, working with members of a local vigilante group, arrested two suspected kidnappers in connection with a failed kidnap attempt that occurred on June 19, 2026.
The suspects, identified as Iliyasu Hassan, 16, and Idris Abdulkarim, 32, were arrested on June 22 at about 8:30 p.m. after they reportedly emerged from a nearby forest to purchase food and medication.
Edafe said a victim of an earlier kidnapping incident positively identified the suspects as among his attackers.
The police spokesman noted that the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, adding that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and recover weapons used in their operations.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended residents for their vigilance and the cooperation between community stakeholders and security agencies.
He urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police, assuring them of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
