The police in Delta State have rescued a 23-year-old man from kidnappers and arrested eight suspects in a series of operations that also yielded three firearms, 26 rounds of ammunition and suspected Indian hemp.
The operations took place in different parts of the state between October 20 and 23, as the command intensified efforts to tackle criminal activities.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, announced the development in a statement on Saturday.
He said officers from the Owa-Oyibu Division, working alongside local vigilante groups, rescued the victim after he was abducted in Owa-Alero.
“On October 20, 2026, operatives of Owa-Oyibu Division, in collaboration with local volunteer groups, successfully rescued a 23-year-old man whom two suspected kidnappers abducted on October 19, 2026 at Owa-Alero,” the statement read in part.
“The victim was reportedly seized in front of his residence and dragged into a nearby bush,” it added.
According to the police, the victim’s brother reported the incident, leading officers to search surrounding bushes until the young man was found.
The command said a manhunt had begun for the suspected abductors who escaped.
In another operation, police officers on October 23 stormed a hotel in Abraka over suspected drug-related activities.
The raid, carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, resulted in the arrest of six suspected cult members. A bag containing a firearm and substances believed to be Indian hemp was also recovered, while some occupants reportedly fled.
The police said they were investigating the recovered weapon to establish its origin and identify other people who might be connected to the case.
Meanwhile, officers of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Sector III, Ubuluku, arrested a 62-year-old man, Richard Nmorsi, following a search of his residence in Ekuku-Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, on October 21.
The search, conducted under a warrant, led to the discovery of a locally manufactured single-barrel gun, 24 live cartridges and suspected Indian hemp.
The suspect was taken into custody, while the recovered items were secured for investigation.
Two days later, the same unit arrested another resident, 56-year-old Amechi Osemeke, after searching his home in the same community.
Police said a functional double-barrel firearm and one live cartridge were found during the search. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding his possession of the weapon.
Reacting to the operations, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, pledged to sustain the fight against criminal activities.
“The command would sustain intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, recovering illegally possessed firearms and safeguarding communities across the state,” he said.
E rale called on residents to assist security agencies with useful information, assuring the public that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property.
