By Sunday Apah
The Delta State Police have apprehended a two-term councilor, Hon. Ndubisi Okechukwu, along with two suspected stolen vehicles, a Beretta pistol, and fourteen different Toyota vehicle keys.
In a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, it was revealed that authorities acted on credible intelligence regarding the activities of a suspected kidnapper, Philip Onoghosa, the leader of a kidnapping syndicate operating along the Sapele-Warri Road.
On October 25, 2024, around 5:30 PM, operatives from the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) pursued the suspect in Sapele town.
“The suspect, who was observed at the Amukpe Roundabout purchasing illicit drugs, noticed the operatives and fled, abandoning a black Toyota Corolla (Registration No: SKL 330 AE).
Upon searching the vehicle, a loaded Beretta pistol with two live rounds of ammunition was found beneath the driver’s seat,” the statement read.
Additionally, on October 22, 2024, at approximately 5:00 PM, the Safer Highway Patrol Team, while conducting an intensive stop-and-search operation along the Mosogar-Benin Road, intercepted a black Toyota RAV4 SUV (Registration No: KUJ-311-MB).
The driver, seeing the checkpoint, attempted to evade capture but was pursued by the police. Upon realizing the officers were closing in, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush.
The vehicle was recovered, and its documents, including the owner’s name and contact information, were found.
The owner was subsequently contacted, confirming that the vehicle had been stolen from his compound in Kogi State.
Two metal master keys and fourteen different Toyota vehicle keys were also retrieved.
In another successful operation, CSP Florence Onum, the DPO of Abbi Division, received credible intelligence regarding a planned kidnapping of a prominent member of the Abbi community.
Acting on this information, the DPO of Kwale and his operatives launched a discreet investigation, leading to the arrest of Hon. Ndubisi Okechukwu on October 21, 2024, around 7:00 PM.
The suspect admitted to being suspended from his position as councilor and revealed his intentions to kidnap the targeted woman, knowing that the local government would be likely to pay a ransom due to her close ties to the local government chairman.
