The Delta State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped woman and arrested two suspected drug dealers in separate operations carried out across different parts of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday. He said both incidents happened on Saturday at Ovian Aladja and Effurun GRA respectively.
According to the statement, police operatives attached to the Ovian Aladja Division responded to a distress call from a man who reported that his wife had been abducted by armed men in the early hours of the day.
Edafe said the man, whose name was not disclosed, told the police that the attack took place around 2 a.m. when the family was asleep. The hoodlums were said to have broken into their home, dispossessed them of valuables, and whisked the woman away.
He explained that the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Friday Ekundayo, swiftly mobilised his men and launched a pursuit operation to rescue the victim.
“The DPO, in a swift response, led operatives of the division after the kidnappers with the aim of ensuring the woman’s safe rescue and the arrest of the suspects,” Edafe said.
The police team reportedly tracked the abductors into a forest near the Iyara community. However, the kidnappers were said to have abandoned their victim after facing intense pressure from the advancing officers.
“Following unrelenting effort from the DPO and his team, the kidnappers were forced to abandon the victim and escape. The woman was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with her family,” Edafe added.
He said a manhunt for the fleeing suspects had since been launched.
In another development, the Command’s Crack Squad in Asaba carried out an intelligence-led raid on a suspected drug den in Effurun GRA, Uvwie Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
The suspects, identified as 33-year-old Igwe Samson and 39-year-old Abalum Sunday, were nabbed at about 5 a.m. after police intercepted a Sienna vehicle allegedly being used to transport banned substances.
A search of the vehicle reportedly led to the recovery of 450 bottles of codeine syrup, 188 bottles of barcadine, 208 sachets of tramadol 100mg, 300 sachets of swinol, 100 sachets of tramadol 500mg, 50 sachets of rophynol, and a large bag of weed suspected to be cannabis.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect has been in the business for about two years. He usually buys the drugs at Onitsha and prefers to travel at night to avoid being caught,” Edafe disclosed.
He added that efforts were ongoing to track down the suspects’ suppliers and other accomplices in the illicit trade.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the quick response of the DPO and his team, saying their professionalism prevented what could have turned into another tragic incident.
Abaniwonda assured residents that the Command would continue to clamp down on criminals in all parts of the state.
“We will not relent in our efforts to make Delta unsafe for kidnappers, cultists, and other criminals. The Command remains committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property,” he stated.
He further warned residents against drug peddling and abuse, describing it as a major cause of violent crimes among youths.
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