The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, Ogaga Kom for shooting an 11-year-old boy, Hossanna Merritt to death while testing a locally-made gun in his house.
The incident happened at Ozoro Community on Monday, August 22, 2022.
According to the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who spoke on the suspect’s arrest, Kome fled immediately after he knew he had landed himself in trouble, which made the police command alert members of the public after the incident was reported to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ozoro Police Station.
The command also solicited information that would aid the arrest of the suspect, the PPRO said.
He stated further that on Tuesday, August 30, at about 1:05 pm, a well-meaning individual who is also a relative of the suspect brought him to the police station.
“The suspect is in custody and the investigation is ongoing,” DSP Edafe added.
Also, a principal suspect, Iyegbunuwe Oluchukwu, was arrested, along with two others, over a stolen unregistered motorcycle after the case was reported reported by an indigene of Onicha-Uku on August 25, at about 8 am.
The PPRO said that three suspects were arrested for stealing a motorcycle following a report made by the DPO Issele-Uku Division detailing detectives to investigate.
“An intelligence-led investigation culminated in the arrest of the prime suspect who led the detectives to their hideout at Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government Area, where two other suspects – one Okwudili Ozah and Esther Nwoko – were arrested,” the police spokesman stated.
The PPRO added that the police recovered an English revolver pistol, 15 rounds of live ammunition and six expended ammunitions from the suspects.
Edafe noted that the suspects were accused of stealing the motorcycle at gunpoint, which was suspected to be in possession of their accomplice, one Chidinma Nwoko who is Esther Nwoko’s husband.
The PPRO said that efforts were being made to arrest the other members of the gang.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the state residents who had been supportive of the police in combating crime, urging them to sustain the tempo.
The police commissioner also advised members of the public to monitor their environment and report any suspicious persons or movements to the police.