Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a commercial motorcyclist allegedly involved in the abduction of a three-year-old girl in the Ughelli area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to Edafe, the suspect, identified as Kelvin Ogaga, was entrusted with taking the child to school on a daily basis before allegedly abducting her and demanding a ransom of N500,000 from the family.
He explained that the incident was reported to the police on May 18, 2026, by the victim’s father, who accused the suspect of kidnapping his daughter.
“The suspect allegedly abducted the child after being entrusted with her school runs and later demanded a ransom of N500,000 from the family,” Edafe stated.
The police spokesperson added that after negotiations, the family reportedly paid the ransom to secure the release of the child.
Acting on intelligence, operatives stormed the suspect’s hideout in Ughelli, where he was arrested.
Edafe said police recovered N127,000 believed to be part of the ransom money, valuables allegedly purchased with proceeds of the crime, and the motorcycle reportedly used during the operation.
“The suspect is currently in custody while investigations are ongoing,” he added.
In a separate operation, the command said officers conducting stop-and-search duties along the Power Line axis near Bonsaac recovered a Beretta pistol abandoned by a fleeing suspect.
According to the statement, the unidentified man took to his heels immediately after sighting the patrol team and abandoned a black bag during the chase.
A search of the bag reportedly led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol and an iPhone, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspect.
Similarly, operatives attached to the Ozoro Division arrested a suspected cult member identified as Michael Monday during a patrol along Omovutotu Street in Ozoro.
Police said the suspect attempted to escape on sighting officers, prompting a search of a black handbag in his possession.
The search allegedly led to the recovery of a locally fabricated cut-to-size single-barrel gun and a cartridge.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, revealed that the suspect was allegedly linked to the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as “Aro Bagger.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended officers for their swift response and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime and improving security across the state.