Susan Abayomi
The Delta State Police Command has reported the death of two suspected kidnappers and armed robbers following a confrontation with security operatives in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at about 8:35 p.m., when operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), working alongside members of the Ughelli Vigilante, raided a suspected criminal hideout in a forest at Ekrerhavwe.
According to the police, the operation followed credible intelligence about the activities of suspected kidnappers and armed robbers operating in the area.
The suspects reportedly opened fire after sighting the approaching security team, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which two of them sustained gunshot injuries, while other members of the group escaped into the forest.
The injured suspects were taken to a hospital, where they were later confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
A search of the area led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, 26 rounds of live ammunition and two face masks believed to have been used by the suspected criminals.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes across the state.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in their operations, assuring them that information supplied would be treated confidentially.
The police also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects. The recovered rifle would equally undergo forensic analysis to establish whether it was linked to other criminal incidents in the area.
The command reiterated its determination to sustain efforts aimed at strengthening security and protecting lives and property across Delta State.
