The Delta State Police Command has recovered a total of ₦8.5 million in ransom money from suspected kidnappers, while also arresting 211 suspects linked to various criminal activities across the state in July 2025.
Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Asaba, where he outlined the command’s key achievements for the month under review.
According to the CP, ₦5 million was recovered on July 12, 2025, around 6:30 a.m., after operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad tracked a suspected kidnapper, Sanusi Abdulahi, to a hideout in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area. The suspect was arrested in possession of the money, which was said to be part of the ransom collected from their latest victim.
Abaniwonda said Abdulahi’s gang is believed to be responsible for a series of kidnappings in communities including Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Obulu-Okiti, Issele-Uku, and Issele-Asagba.
In a related breakthrough, the police recovered another ₦3.5 million from a separate kidnap syndicate during a joint operation with the Nigerian Army on July 30. The operation, which took place in the Ogwashi-Uku forest, led to a fierce gun duel with the suspects, resulting in the death of two of them.
“During the operation, our team recovered one AK-47 rifle, thirty-nine rounds of live ammunition, and a bag containing ₦3.5 million, suspected to be ransom collected from the family of two female polytechnic students abducted on July 23 in Asagba Ogwashi,” the CP stated.
In other operations, police arrested a 47-year-old woman, Maureen Odiri, in Jesse, Ethiope West LGA, for possession of illicit drugs including Tramadol, Swinol, and Codeine. She was intercepted by an anti-crime patrol team while riding on a motorcycle, and the substances were uncovered during a search.
Similarly, 20-year-old Tega Ibrahim was arrested on July 20 along Uyo Street in Jesse Town. A locally made pistol loaded with one cartridge was recovered from his bag. Preliminary investigations revealed that Ibrahim is the second-in-command of the Eiye Confraternity in the area.
CP Abaniwonda further disclosed that within the period under review, the command recovered 18 firearms, 359 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, as well as 378 laptops and mobile phones suspected to have been stolen or used in cybercrime.
The commissioner praised the efforts of officers and collaborative support from sister security agencies, while reaffirming the command’s commitment to making Delta State unsafe for criminals.
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