Police arrest 5 kidnap kingpins, 6 suspected cultists, confirm dismissal of 3 policemen for robbery in Delta

Determined to eradicate all forms of criminal activities in the state, the Delta State Police Command has arrested five kidnap kingpins, six suspected cultists, and confirmed the dismissal of three policemen who were recently involved in robbery.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, who confirmed the recorded successes of the incident to journalists at a media briefing in Asaba, on Thursday named the suspects as: Ignatius Obagha (alias IG), Obed Ikenna Oluchi 23 years old, Mustapha Ali (alias Babayo) 28 years old, Ifeanyi Aniekwe, 24 years old, and hails from Ogbaru town, Anambra State, Ifeanyi Nwosu 23 years old and a resident of 36, Chinedu Eze Street, off Agric road, Asaba, adding that the suspects’ victim, Amobi Molokwu escaped the attempt on him narrowly around Corner Stone International School Okpanam road, Asaba.

The police boss said that the attempt on Amobi Molokwu in front of his house gate behind Corner Stone International School, Okpanam saw the hoodlums succeeded in robbing him of his Rav4 Jeep with Registration No: ASB176AV, his phones, cash, including other valuables.

Mr. Ibrahim disclosed that the police, acting on a tip-off through intelligence gathering, arrested Ignatius Obagha in whose possession the victim’s Infinix Phone was recovered, adding that the suspect confessed to the crime and mentioned his cohorts currently in the police custody, while others are now at large.

According to the police boss, the syndicate also confessed to most car robberies/kidnapping within Asaba/Okpanam and its environs as Obed Ikenna Oluchi alongside one other now at large, confessed to the robbery operation at Globe Supermarket, Okpanam road, and the murder of Mr. Festus Ashiedu on July 27 while the trial for other fleeing gang members/recovery of the Rav 4 Jeep are ongoing.

On the arrest of the suspected cultists, the police commissioner further disclosed that the six suspects forcefully took one Odiachi Ikechukwu (male) of Umu-Akpe Street, off Out-Obi-Ofu Umusadege Kwale into the bush behind his father’s house where they allegedly initiated him into secret cult known as Viking Confraternity.

He said that that suspects also allegedly forced their victim to cult his thumb, and drink his own blood, adding that efforts were being made by the police to bring other fleeing suspects to book.

Speaking on the dismissed three police officers, the police boss explained that they (policemen) were arrested on a tip-off after they had handcuffed their victims conveying 33, 000 liters of petroleum along Agbor-Benin Express way, and dumped inside the bush, unfortunately, one of them lost his GSM Phone that was later picked by the police detectives.

Zanna Ibrahim said that the policemen (suspects) had since their arrest been undergoing departmental proceedings which were recently completed, and found them guilty, leading to their dismissal as they would be arraigned in court on Monday.

He gave their names as: Sgt. Christopher Onyegho, Sgt. Nwakem Ebonzim, and Sgt. Michael Chima.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has introduced whistle blowing measures to arrest the increasing crime wave in the state.

Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, the Police Commissioner in the state who confirmed this to journalists, said the measures would enhance the productivity of the police, adding that the police command was ready to partner with anybody willing to provide useful information to the police.