The Delta State Police Command has reportedly neutralized a suspected kidnapper and recovered an AK-47 rifle during a coordinated security operation in the state. The Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed that operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU), in collaboration with local security volunteers, carried out the operation based on intelligence gathered from ongoing investigations into recent kidnapping incidents in parts of Delta State.
Details of the Operation
According to Edafe, the operation took place in the early hours of May 18, 2026, when operatives tracked suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate to their hideout within the Ubulu-Okiti Forest axis. The gang was alleged to be linked to a series of kidnappings and other criminal activities in Ubuluku, Ubulu-Okiti, Issele-Uku, and neighboring communities.
Edafe stated that the suspects opened fire immediately security operatives stormed the forest camp, leading to a fierce gun duel. “The operatives responded with superior firepower,” he said, adding that one of the suspected kidnappers sustained fatal gunshot wounds while others escaped deeper into the forest with varying degrees of injuries.
Recovered Items
During the operation, security personnel recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, alongside suspected criminal charms believed to belong to the gang members. The injured suspect was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor.
Ongoing Operations
The Command added that a comprehensive combing operation is ongoing across the forest and surrounding communities to apprehend fleeing suspects and recover additional weapons linked to the syndicate. The Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for their bravery and professionalism during the operation.
Commissioner's Statement
Oyeniyi reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-driven and community-based policing strategies aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating across the state. He also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information to aid ongoing operations, assuring citizens that efforts were being intensified to protect lives and property in Delta State.
