Delta Police bust kidnap syndicate who abducted 18 expatriates; arrest 2 kingpins.

In continuation of its clampdown on criminal elements, the Delta State Police Command on Tuesday paraded two members of a kidnapping syndicate that specialize in the abduction of expatriates within the Niger Delta region.

Before their arrest, the gang is believed to have carried out the abduction of 18 expatriates in Escravos, along Burutu-Bayelsa waterways, in early December 2019.

The suspects include Longlife Ebi Ernest and Seivemefa Rowland Karibo, a native of Kubie in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
Speaking on the arrest, Delta state Commissioner of Police, CP Hafiz Inuwa said the suspects were among 84 others arrested for various criminal offences across the state in the month since he assumed duty.

Giving the breakdown of suspects, Inuwa said 41 persons were arrested for armed robbery, eight for kidnapping, 16 for cultism, four for murder, eight for internet fraud and five for stealing.

In the course the arrests, Inuwa said 35 firearms, 266 live and expended cartridges, two stolen vehicles and 62 live ammunitions were recovered.
The command also recovered bags of Indian hemp, cartons of codeine, assorted mobile phones, sim cards, POS machine, over N400, 000 in cash, a tricycle, among other items.

The Commissioner, who said the suspects will be charged to court at the end of investigations, regretted that the Command had lost some of its committed officers in the line of duty during the period under review.

Noting that the losses will not deter “us but rather strengthen the resolve of the personnel of the Command by putting extra efforts to achieve the remarkable breakthrough”, he urged residents of the state to continue to support the command through prompt release of information.

He assured that the confidence reposed in the Command will not be betrayed.