Police rescue kidnap victim, arrest five in Delta

Nkereuwem Effiong

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have rescued a 25-year-old woman allegedly held hostage and arrested five suspects in separate operations targeting kidnapping and cult-related violence.

The command said one fabricated Beretta pistol, a magazine and two rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the rescue operation in Usiefrun Community, Delta State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Sunday.

Edafe said that on October 3, 2026, at about 8.30am, the Divisional Police Officer of Otu-Jeremi Division, acting on intelligence from his counterpart at Ovwian-Aladja Division, mobilised operatives to Usiefrun Community.

The police rescued the woman and arrested the main suspect, identified as Brotugbare Francis Onome, 29.

“A search of the premises led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine and two rounds of live ammunition. Investigation is ongoing,” Edafe said.

In a separate operation on October 1, the Abraka Division arrested two men over an alleged plot to kidnap a woman in the area.

The suspects, Endurance Akpade, 37, and Edwin Friday Morgan, 43, were arrested following intelligence-led operations involving police officers and civilian anti-cult operatives. They are assisting with the investigation.

The command also arrested two suspected cultists, Ezekiel Sunday Izomor, 23, and Emmanuel Ogaganefe, 23, at a suspected criminal hideout in Oghara.

The arrests followed intelligence from a viral video allegedly showing suspected cultists celebrating the murder of a 25-year-old man identified as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market, Ethiope West Local Government Area, on March 24, 2026.

Police recovered one battle axe, four cutlasses and one hammer during the operation.

Preliminary investigation indicated that a suspected cultist, identified as Collins, allegedly sought to become the leader of the Aro Bagger Confraternity and conspired with the two arrested suspects and another suspect, Richman, to murder Godfrey.

Police said Collins and Richman remained at large, while efforts to arrest them were ongoing.

Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale commended the operatives for their swift response and effective intelligence sharing.

He urged residents to provide timely and credible information to the police and warned youths against cultism, describing it as destructive to their future.