Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Delta State Police Command has rescued a 25-year-old woman who was allegedly assaulted and held hostage in Usiefrun community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, and arrested five suspects in separate operations involving kidnapping and cult-related murder, in a coordinated crackdown that also yielded the recovery of a fabricated Beretta pistol, a magazine, two rounds of live ammunition, a battle axe, four cutlasses and a hammer.
According to a statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, and made available to journalists in Warri on Sunday, the rescue operation took place on October 3, 2026, at about 8:30 a.m., when the Divisional Police Officer of Otu-Jeremi Division, acting on credible intelligence shared by the DPO of Ovwian-Aladja Division, mobilised operatives to Usiefrun community following reports that a woman was being held against her will. The victim was rescued, and the main suspect, identified as Brotugbare Francis Onome, a 29-year-old male, was arrested at the scene. A search of the premises led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol, one magazine and two rounds of live ammunition. The police said investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In a separate operation on October 1, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m., operatives of the Abraka Division received a report concerning an alleged conspiracy to kidnap a woman in the Abraka area of Ethiope East Local Government Area. Following credible intelligence, Endurance Akpade, a 37-year-old male, and Edwin Friday Morgan, a 43-year-old male, were apprehended by operatives of the Abraka Division alongside members of civilian anti-cult operatives and subsequently taken into police custody. The Command’s spokesperson disclosed that the suspects are presently assisting with the ongoing investigation, and no further details about the alleged plot were provided.
The third and most complex operation involved the arrest of two suspected cultists linked to a murder that had been celebrated in a viral video. On October 1, 2026, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, acting on credible intelligence obtained from the video showing suspected cultists celebrating the killing of another suspected cultist, stormed a suspected criminal hideout in Oghara and arrested Ezekiel Sunday Izomor, aged 23, and Emmanuel Ogaganefe, also aged 23. The two are accused in connection with the cult-related killing of a 25-year-old man identified as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market in Ethiope West Local Government Area on March 24, 2026.
Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the fleeing suspects, identified as Collins, was allegedly vying to become the number one man in the Aro Bagger Confraternity and believed he needed to murder a rival cult member to achieve that goal. The police alleged that Collins conspired with the two arrested suspects and one Richman, described as a very close friend of the victim, Godfrey, to carry out the killing. Collins and Richman remain at large, and the police said efforts to arrest them are in top gear. The arrested suspects are in custody and are assisting with the investigation.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, commended the operatives for what he described as their swift response and effective intelligence sharing. He reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and the fight against kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes. The CP also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, stressing that community cooperation remains essential to the success of police operations across the state. He further admonished young people to stay away from cultism, noting that it is a catalyst that will destroy their future.
The operations reflect the Delta State Police Command’s sustained emphasis on intelligence-driven enforcement, a strategy that has produced a series of arrests and recoveries in recent months. The Command has consistently credited information from the public, including viral videos and tips from community members, with enabling it to identify and apprehend suspects in cases that might otherwise have remained unsolved. The recovery of a fabricated Beretta pistol and other weapons in the Usiefrun operation highlights the continued prevalence of illicit firearms in the state, while the arrest of suspected cultists linked to a murder that occurred more than six months ago demonstrates the Command’s willingness to pursue cases over extended periods.
The broader security context in Delta State remains challenging, with kidnapping, cultism and armed robbery posing persistent threats to residents across the state’s 25 local government areas. The Command has recorded multiple high-profile operations in 2026, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, the arrest of suspected cultists and the recovery of weapons in various parts of the state. In September 2026, the Command announced the arrest of 50 suspected cultists in separate operations in Eku and Obiaruku, in Ethiope East and Ukwuani Local Government Areas. In April, it prosecuted 205 criminal cases and arrested five suspected kidnappers in Ughelli and along the Warri–Sapele Road. In March, it smashed a kidnap syndicate, rescued three victims and recovered an AK-47 rifle. The pattern reflects a Command operating under sustained pressure but also one that has demonstrated a capacity to respond to emerging threats with intelligence-led operations.
For the rescued woman in Usiefrun, the police intervention brought an end to what the statement described as an ordeal of assault and captivity. For the families of the suspects in custody, the legal process now begins, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. For the residents of Abraka, Oghara and Usiefrun, the operations represent a measure of reassurance that the police are acting on the information they receive and pursuing those who threaten the peace of their communities. For the Delta State Police Command, the weekend operations are another demonstration of its stated commitment to intelligence-led policing, though the continued prevalence of kidnapping and cultism in the state suggests that the broader battle is far from over. As CP Erale put it, the Command remains committed to the fight against kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes, and it will continue to rely on the cooperation of the public to succeed.
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