Delta police rescue woman, arrest five in separate kidnapping, cult-related cases
The Delta State Police Command says it rescued a 25-year-old woman and arrested five people in three separate operations involving alleged kidnapping and suspected cult-related violence.
Police spokesperson Bright Edafe said the rescue operation took place on October 3 after officers from the Otu-Jeremi Division acted on intelligence shared by the Ovwian-Aladja Division.
According to police, the woman had been assaulted and held hostage.
Officers rescued her and arrested a 29-year-old man identified as Brotugbare Francis Onome in connection with the incident.
Police said a search of the premises led to the recovery of a fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine and two rounds of live ammunition.
Those allegations and exhibit claims remain subject to investigation and legal process.
Two arrested over alleged cult-related killing
In a separate operation, officers from the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two 23-year-old men, Ezekiel Izomor and Emmanuel Ogaganefe, over an alleged cult-related killing.
Police said the case relates to the March 24 killing of a 25-year-old man identified as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market in Ethiope West Local Government Area.
The command said intelligence linked to a viral video led officers to a suspected hideout in Oghara on October 1.
Police reported recovering a battle axe, four cutlasses and a hammer during the operation.
The command also alleged that other suspects remain at large.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and the arrests do not establish guilt.
Two arrested over alleged kidnap plot in Abraka
Police also announced the arrests of Endurance Akpade, 37, and Edwin Morgan, 43, in a separate case involving an alleged conspiracy to kidnap a woman in Abraka.
The command said the two men were arrested on October 1 and remained in custody while assisting investigators.
No completed abduction was reported in that case.
Five arrests came from three different cases
The five arrests were not part of a single kidnapping operation.
According to the police account:
- one arrest followed the Usiefrun rescue;
- two arrests were linked to an alleged cult-related killing;
- two arrests were linked to an alleged kidnap plot in Abraka.
Police also reported recovering a fabricated pistol, ammunition, a battle axe, four cutlasses and a hammer across the operations.
The command said Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale commended the officers involved and urged residents to continue providing timely information to security agencies.
For the public, the immediate significance of the update is the rescue of the woman and the disruption of three separate cases under investigation.
What is confirmed is that one woman was rescued and five people were arrested across the three operations.
What remains subject to investigation and due process is whether any of the arrested suspects committed the offences alleged by police.