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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Two persons suspected to members of a kidnapping syndicate believed to be terrorising Ekpan area of Delta State have been arrested by the police during a stop and search operation.
Also arrested in Sapele, Oghara and Ughelli areas of the state were six suspected cultists.
Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday.
Edafe said the suspected kidnappers jumped down from a moving tricycle on sighting the police, and ran.
He said the police gave them a hot chase, caught up with them and arrested the two suspects, adding that one locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun, one cut-to-size double barrel pistol and two rounds of live cartridges were recovered from them.
On the suspected cultists, Edafe said five of them were arrested during a raid of a criminal rendezvous in Sapele and Oghara.
According to him, Christian Mordi, 30, Julius Onoja, 29, Obikoko Damian 33, all members of Vikings confraternity and Ochuko Ofoye, 34, Odem Hunt, 30, who are members of Patriotic Lords Initiative for Justice, were arrested.
“Due to the intelligence already gathered, the house of Odemi Hunt at Oghara was thoroughly searched during which a Beretta pistol with breach number A059977 loaded with eight rounds of 9mm live ammunition were recovered,” he added.
Edafe stated that 18-year old Sunday Difference, a suspected member of Eiye confraternity, was nabbed with a locally made cut to size gun by surveillance operatives on routine stop and search at Ekrarhawe community Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area..
He stated that all suspects and exhibits recovered were in police custody, adding that investigation into the cases was in progress.
