Operatives of the Delta State Police Command’s State Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU) have neutralised a suspected kidnapper during a fierce gun battle in a forest hideout. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed this in a statement released on Tuesday, May 19.
According to the statement, the operation took place in the early hours of Monday, May 18, and was carried out in collaboration with local security volunteers. Acting on intelligence gathered during ongoing investigations into recent kidnapping incidents within the state, SAKU operatives tracked suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate to their hideout in the Ubulu-Okiti forest axis.
The syndicate is believed to be linked to a series of kidnapping operations in Ubuluku, Ubulu-Okiti, Issele-Uku, and adjoining communities. Upon arrival at the forest hideout, the suspects opened fire on the operatives. The team responded professionally with superior firepower, resulting in one suspected kidnapper sustaining serious gunshot injuries, while others escaped into the forest with varying degrees of injuries.
Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, as well as suspected criminal charms. Edafe disclosed that the injured suspect was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty.
Security forces have launched a combing operation in the forest and adjoining areas to track down the fleeing suspects and recover additional exhibits. The Command urged residents of the state to remain vigilant and support law enforcement with timely, credible information, while assuring the public that all necessary operational strategies are being deployed to guarantee the safety of lives and property across Delta State.
