The Delta State Police Command has arrested three kidnap suspects and recovered assorted weapons, including five packs of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as exhibits.

In a press briefing on Monday in Warri, the command`s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, said the suspects were arrested on Friday by police operatives attached to the Orerokpe Division in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

He said the divisional police officer, Orerokpe division, CSP Paul Oboware, led the anti-crime patrol team to the Ofuoma community in Ughelli North to effect the arrest.

Mr Edafe recounted that some one Ese-Oghene Ezekiel was arrested two months ago for masterminding the kidnap of his brother and his household members in the Oha community. He said the brother’s wife, Regina Ogana, was shot dead. 

“The initial success notwithstanding, the Commissioner of Police in Delta, Wale Abass, gave CSP Oboware the marching orders to ensure every other person involved in the crime were brought to book,” he said.

“Two male suspects were arrested for their involvement in the incident. Consequently, upon their arrest, the team proceeded to conduct searches at their premises and hideout,” Mr Edafe added. 

Mr Edafe said that upon searching criminals’ hideouts, another suspect was apprehended, adding that other gang members fled immediately after they sighted the police team’s advancement.

He said the police recovered four AK-47 rifles, one pump action, one locally-made single-barrel cut-to-size pistol, and 58 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition. 

Other items recovered from their hideout are 13 live cartridges, five packs of IEDs, six detonators, and eight empty magazines. 

Mr Edafe said the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the crime and other kidnapping incidents in the state.

He said they were currently in police custody, aiding the investigation, adding that a manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang was ongoing. 

(NAN)