The Delta State Police Command has announced the bust of an abduction syndicate and the arrest of key members of the network, including Dafiaga Timothy, Samuel Omonigho, Henry Christmas, Ovo Wilson Junior, and Emakpo Ubiaro Abel.
The Command also confirmed the rescue of abducted victims and the recovery of firearms during the operations.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the kidnapping incident occurred on February 1, 2026, at about 2000hrs along the Warri-Sapele Road in Adeje Community.
“The incident was reported on 4 February 2026 at about 1700hrs, following the abduction of a group of travellers who were ambushed by armed hoodlums. The assailants, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, forcefully took the victims into the bush.
“Two of the victims managed to escape and promptly raised alarm, triggering a coordinated response involving the Police, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilantes. Sustained pressure from the joint security team forced the kidnappers to abandon the remaining victims, who were subsequently rescued unhurt,” SP Edafe stated.
He further revealed that, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Orerokpe Division arrested a suspect, Dafiaga Timothy, on the same day while he was attempting to withdraw money using one of the victims’ ATM cards at a Point of Sale (POS) outlet in Adeje Community.
The spokesperson added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Orerokpe Division was directed to transfer the case to the CP-Special Assignment Team for discreet and further investigation.
Edafe noted that operatives subsequently arrested additional members of the syndicate, including Samuel Omonigho, 31, in Kokori Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, and Henry Christmas, 22, in Adeje Community, Okpe Local Government Area, following sustained interrogation and technically generated intelligence on March 31, 2026, at about 1600hrs.
Further breakthroughs were recorded on April 5, 2026, at about 1445hrs, when operatives arrested two more suspects — Ovo Wilson Junior (also known as Sheboy), 24, in Mereje Community, Okpe Local Government Area, and Emakpo Ubiaro Abel, 36, in Ughwagba Community, Okpe Local Government Area.
Abel was found to be a tricycle rider who conveyed gang members to and from their operational locations.
Similarly, at about 0535hrs on April 13, 2026, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team, acting on information obtained during interrogation, carried out a follow-up operation at a hideout located at Oka Junction, Agbarho. A thorough search led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with three rounds of live ammunition, as well as one locally made gun with seven live cartridges.
Edafe confirmed that the syndicate has been linked to a series of kidnappings and armed robbery incidents across Warri, Sapele, Agbarho, Ughelli, and adjoining areas.
Commenting on the arrests and seizures, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the synergy between security agencies and the vigilance of community members, which he acknowledged contributed to the success of the operations.
