Delta: Police rescue five kidnapped worshippers, recover N1.3 million ransom

He appealed to members of the public to trust the police and give them information about suspected criminals.

Olumayowa Samuel • February 28, 2025

Delta police spokesman Bright Edafe (Credit: Nigerian Guardian)

Operatives from the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-crime squad of the Delta state police command, on Tuesday, rescued five worshippers kidnapped from Elyon Paradise Ministry, Ogwashi-uku, during a vigil.

In a statement on Friday on X, spokesperson for the command, Bright Edafe, stated that the police also retrieved N1.3 million ransom and other exhibits during the operation.

“The deployment to Ogwashi-uku by CP Olufemi Abaniwomda has paid off almost immediately as all five persons kidnapped from the church at Ogwashi-uku on the 22nd February 2025 have all been rescued and a ransom money of #1,300,000, and thirteen expended cartridges were recovered by operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cybercrime squad,” said Mr Edafe.

Mr Edafe, in a video attached to the statement, said incessant distress calls regarding kidnappings in the area, prompted the police commissioner to redeploy the DPO, tactical teams such as Dragon, Eagle Net and RRS, while also relocating the special anti-kidnapping and cybercrime squad to the area until the kidnapped worshippers are rescued.

“On the 25th of February 2025, the commander (of the squad), CSP Label Joseph led his operatives alongside some vigilantes of Ubulu-Uku community and some concerned human rights activities who are also from that community, to storm the Ubulu-Uku forest.

“Due to their intelligence-led investigation, they trailed these kidnappers to their hideout where upon sighting the policemen, opened fire. The policemen who were also prepared, also gave them the same fire power which eventually became too much for them to bear. They abandoned the victims and fled with gunshot injuries. The five victims who were initially kidnapped on the 22nd of February were all rescued unhurt and they have since been reunited with their families.”

Stating that the kidnappers are still at large but that the police are on their trail, he appealed to members of the public to trust the police and give them information, as they work to ensure peace is restored in the area and the state at large.

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