The Delta State Police Command has rescued a 23-year-old kidnap victim and arrested eight suspected armed robbers and cultists in separate operations across the state, recovering three firearms, 26 live cartridges and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
The operations, conducted between October 20 and 23, 2026, also led to the arrest of two men aged 62 and 56 in Ekuku-Agbor community, Ika South Local Government Area, while six suspected cultists were arrested during a raid on a hotel in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale.
According to the statement, operatives of the Owa-Oyibu Division, working with local volunteer groups, rescued the 23-year-old man who was abducted at Owa-Alero on October 19.
The victim was reportedly seized in front of his residence by two suspected kidnappers and dragged into a nearby bush.
Following a complaint by the victim’s brother, police operatives launched an intensive search of surrounding bushes, leading to his rescue on October 20.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In a separate operation on October 23, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit raided a hotel in Abraka following intelligence that the premises was being used for drug-related activities.
The operation resulted in the arrest of six suspected cultists and the recovery of a bag containing a firearm and substances suspected to be Indian hemp. Some individuals reportedly fled upon sighting the operatives.
Police said investigations were ongoing to establish the ownership and source of the recovered firearm and identify other persons connected with the incident.
In another operation, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Sector III, Ubuluku, arrested a 62-year-old man, Richard Nmorsi, at his residence in Ekuku-Agbor community on October 21.
The police said the operatives acted on credible intelligence and conducted a search of the premises under a duly obtained warrant.
The search reportedly led to the recovery of a locally fabricated single-barrel firearm, 24 live cartridges and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
The suspect was arrested, while the recovered items were taken into custody for further investigation.
Similarly, operatives of the unit arrested a 56-year-old man, Amechi Osemeke, at Ekuku-Agbor community on October 23.
According to the police, the operation, also carried out following intelligence and under a duly obtained search warrant, led to the recovery of a serviceable double-barrel firearm and one live cartridge.
The suspect was taken into custody as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding his possession of the firearm.
Reacting to the operations, Commissioner of Police Erale reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks, recover illegally possessed firearms and improve security across Delta State.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to the police, assuring them that the command would continue efforts to protect lives and property.
The police advised members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities in their communities..