Delta Police Rescue Kidnapped 3-Year-Old Girl, Recover Ransom Cash And Guns In Fresh Crime Crackdown

The Delta State Police Command has recorded fresh breakthroughs in its ongoing fight against kidnapping, cultism, and violent crimes across the state, following the rescue of a kidnapped three-year-old girl, the arrest of a suspected cultist, and the recovery of firearms and part of a ransom payment.

Police said operatives attached to the Command Anti-Vice Squad (CAVS), Sector 2, Ughelli, successfully rescued the child after arresting one Kelvin Ogaga, a commercial motorcyclist allegedly involved in the abduction.

According to the Command, the suspect had been entrusted with taking the child to school daily before allegedly kidnapping her and demanding a ransom of ₦500,000 from the family.

“The suspect allegedly kidnapped the child and subsequently demanded a ransom of Five Hundred Thousand Naira from the family,” the police stated.

Investigations revealed that after negotiations, the family paid the ransom to secure the child’s release before police operatives, acting on what was described as “credible technical intelligence,” tracked the suspect to his hideout in Ughelli and arrested him.

Recovered from the suspect were ₦127,000 believed to be part of the ransom money, valuables allegedly purchased with proceeds from the crime, and the motorcycle reportedly used in carrying out the operation.

In another development, operatives of the Department of Operations’ Buffalo Team recovered a Beretta pistol during a stop-and-search patrol operation along the Power Line axis near Bonsaac.

Police said officers on patrol noticed a suspicious man carrying a black bag, but the suspect fled immediately after sighting the operatives.

“A search conducted on the bag led to the recovery of one Beretta pistol and one iPhone,” the Command stated, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect.

Meanwhile, operatives attached to Ozoro Division also arrested one Michael Monday along Omovutotu Street, Ozoro, after he allegedly attempted to escape upon sighting a police patrol team.

A search conducted on the suspect reportedly led to the recovery of a locally made cut-to-size single-barrelled gun and one live cartridge.

Preliminary investigations, according to the police, linked the suspect to the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as “Aro Bagger.”

Commending the operatives for the successful operations, Yemi Oyeniyi reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Delta State.

The police commissioner stressed the importance of stop-and-search operations as part of proactive policing strategies, noting that the operations contributed significantly to the recovery of the firearms.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements, or criminal activities within their communities to the nearest police station.