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Operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad of the Delta State Police Command engaged suspected kidnappers in the Ubuluku-Ogwashi-Uku forests, where victims were being held hostage.
They successfully rescued five members of Elyon Paradise Ministry, Ogwashi-Uku, who had been abducted while attending a night vigil at the church.
Following the kidnapping on February 22, 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, deployed tactical teams to Ogwashi-Uku. This included relocating operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.
On February 25, 2025, a team led by the squad’s Commander, CSP Labe Joseph, alongside members of the Ubuluku community vigilante group and concerned locals, stormed the forest where the victims were being held.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, stated in a signed release that, “The kidnappers, upon sighting the police, engaged them in a fierce gun battle but could not withstand the superior firepower of the operatives.”
“They fled, abandoning the victims,” the PPRO confirmed.
The statement further noted that all five kidnapped church members were rescued unharmed and have since reunited with their families.
Exhibits recovered from the scene included 13 rounds of expended cartridges and a bag containing ₦1,300,000, suspected to be ransom money.
The police confirmed that a manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Abaniwonda praised the bravery of the police operatives, the resilience of the Ubuluku community vigilante members, and the commitment of human rights activists who assisted in the rescue operation.
