By Wealth Oghenemaro
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, have rescued two female students of Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic who were abducted last week. The operation, carried out on July 30, also resulted in the death of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of N3.5 million ransom, an AK-47 rifle, and 39 rounds of live ammunition.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda S. Olufemi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Asaba on Tuesday while presenting the Command’s achievements for July 2025.
According to him, the students were kidnapped on July 23 in Asagba Ogwashi, prompting an intensive intelligence-led operation by the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad in conjunction with personnel from the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army.
The rescue team raided the kidnappers’ hideout in the Ogwashi-Uku forest late at night, where they came under heavy gunfire. “In the exchange, two of the suspected kidnappers were neutralized while others escaped with gunshot wounds,” the Commissioner said.
Items recovered from the scene included an AK-47 rifle, 39 rounds of live ammunition, and a bag containing N3.5 million—believed to be part of a ransom collected from one of the gang’s earlier victims.
The Commissioner confirmed that the rescued students were safe and undergoing medical checks. He commended the synergy between the police and the military, describing the operation as a major victory in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime.
The July operations also saw the arrest of 211 suspects across Delta State, the recovery of 18 firearms, 359 rounds of ammunition, N8.5 million in ransom money, and more than 370 cybercrime-related devices.
CP Abaniwonda urged residents to stay vigilant and promptly report suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through the Command’s control room numbers.
