In a sweeping security operation that underscores the increasing effectiveness of intelligence-led policing in Delta State, the State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough against criminal elements operating within and across its borders.
Acting on a series of intelligence reports and in strict compliance with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, operatives of the Command successfully dismantled a notorious kidnap gang and simultaneously apprehended 184 suspected internet fraudsters in a coordinated raid.
Kidnap Plot Foiled, Syndicate Dismantled
The high-profile kidnap ring, which had been under surveillance for months, had been planning a series of abductions targeting prominent individuals in Sapele, Oghara, and surrounding areas. The criminal network was allegedly led by one Owei Abebo, also known by the alias “Adusa,” who had been on the Command’s wanted list since 2021.
Acting on actionable intelligence, the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, launched a strategic pre-dawn raid on July 19, 2025. The operation led to the arrest of Peter Benson, 35, from Kwale in Ndokwa LGA, identified as a spiritual herbalist who reportedly provided ritual fortifications for the gang. His arrest led to the capture of Joseph Saniyo, 63, of Ajakorama Community in Ovia South-West LGA, Edo State—said to be the syndicate’s chief spiritualist.
Saniyo was reportedly found in possession of three live tortoises and various fetish materials believed to be used for ritual protection. Following further interrogation, police operatives stormed the gang’s hideout in Oghara and arrested the gang leader, Owei Abebo, alongside two of his key accomplices: Ebi Maye, 41, from Warri North LGA, and Happy Obegha, 39, from Ovia North-East LGA, Edo State.
A search of their hideouts yielded a significant cache of arms—two hundred and forty-seven (247) rounds of live ammunition for a Submachine Gun (SMG) rifle. According to preliminary investigations, the group had mapped out plans to simultaneously abduct multiple individuals across Sapele and Oghara before their arrest disrupted the operation.
Crackdown on Cybercrime: 184 Arrested in Effurun
In another major security operation, the Delta State Police Command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, arrested one hundred and eighty-four (184) suspected internet fraudsters in Effurun. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Ekpan Police Division carried out a tactical raid on July 21, 2025, at about 5:45 p.m. in the Post Housing Estate area of Effurun.
The raid led to the arrest of Kelvin Odini, 33, and 183 others allegedly engaged in cybercrime and suspected terrorism financing activities.
The security team recovered:
- 273 assorted laptops
- 97 assorted smartphones
- 1 iPad
- 1 table phone
- 9 laptop chargers
- 2 Wi-Fi routers
All suspects and recovered items are currently in police custody as investigations continue to uncover the full scale of the syndicate’s operations and identify other accomplices.
CP Abaniwonda Reiterates Zero Tolerance for Crime
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, praised the courage and professionalism of the officers who carried out both operations. He emphasized the Command’s commitment to making Delta State a fortress against criminality through sustained intelligence gathering, community policing, and proactive enforcement.
“Our objective is clear—Delta State must remain hostile and uninhabitable to criminal elements,” he said. “We will continue to work with stakeholders and the community to ensure the safety and peace of our citizens.”
As security agencies intensify efforts to rid the state of crime, residents have been urged to support the police with timely information, while criminals are warned that the days of impunity are over.
