Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Delta State Police Command has recorded a significant victory in its ongoing offensive against kidnapping syndicates operating across the state, after operatives of the State Anti‑Kidnapping Unit (SAKU) neutralised a suspected kidnapper and recovered an AK‑47 rifle during a fierce gun battle deep inside the Ubulu‑Okiti Forest in the early hours of Monday, May 18, 2026. The operation, which was executed in collaboration with local security volunteers and based on intelligence gathered from recent kidnapping cases, targeted a criminal hideout believed to be the base of a gang responsible for a string of abductions in Ubuluku, Ubulu‑Okiti, Issele‑Uku and neighbouring communities. According to a statement issued by the Command's Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, the suspected kidnappers opened fire as soon as the security operatives entered the forest camp, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire. The operatives responded with superior tactical firepower, neutralising one of the suspects while others fled deeper into the forest with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Recovered from the scene was one AK‑47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, alongside items described by the police as suspected criminal charms, believed to be used by the gang for spiritual protection. The injured suspect was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but was later pronounced dead by the attending physician. His corpse has been deposited at a morgue for autopsy in line with standard procedure. The Command has since launched a comprehensive combing operation of the forest and surrounding areas to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover additional weapons or exhibits linked to the gang. The development marks the second major breakthrough within 24 hours in the South‑South region, following a similar operation by the Ogun State Police Command on May 19, which resulted in the neutralisation of a kidnapping kingpin and the recovery of an AK‑47 rifle, twenty rounds of ammunition, and two million naira in cash.
The Delta State Police Command's Commissioner, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, has commended the bravery, professionalism and tactical response of the operatives involved in the operation. CP Oyeniyi, who has prioritised intelligence‑driven and community‑focused policing strategies since assuming office, reiterated the Command's unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state. He also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with reliable and timely information, emphasising that collaboration between the police and local communities remains the most effective weapon against kidnapping and other violent crimes. The Command has not released the identity of the neutralised suspect, pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.
The Ubulu‑Okiti Forest has long been identified as a hideout for criminal elements operating along the border areas between Delta and Anambra states, with its dense vegetation and difficult terrain providing cover for kidnappers who often abduct victims from highways and rural communities. The latest operation demonstrates the growing effectiveness of the State Anti‑Kidnapping Unit, which has intensified patrols and intelligence gathering across forested corridors in recent months. As the manhunt for fleeing suspects continues, residents of Ubuluku, Issele‑Uku and surrounding communities have expressed cautious relief, while calling on the police to sustain the momentum and ensure that the fleeing gang members do not regroup elsewhere. For now, one kidnapper is dead, an AK‑47 is off the streets, and the forest has given up another of its secrets.
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