Delta Police bust major kidnap gang led by wanted suspect “Adusa,” foil planned abductions.
Officers also raided cybercrime hub, arresting 184 suspects and seizing laptops, phones, and Wi-Fi devices.
The Delta State Police Command has successfully dismantled a notorious kidnapping ring led by a wanted suspect, Owei Abebo, also known as “Adusa,” who had been on the police watchlist since 2021.
Acting on credible intelligence, the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), under the leadership of ASP Julius Robinson, launched a well-coordinated operation targeting the gang. The mission, directed by the State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, focused on proactive and intelligence-led policing to prevent a series of planned abductions in Sapele, Oghara, and neighboring areas.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, the operation began in the early hours of July 19, 2025, with the arrest of Peter Benson, a 35-year-old from Kwale in Ndokwa LGA. Benson, identified as the group’s spiritual facilitator, allegedly prepared rituals for the syndicate.
Following his interrogation, Benson led police to another suspect, 63-year-old Joseph Saniyo of Ajakorama Community in Edo State. Saniyo, also a spiritualist, was found with ritualistic items including three live tortoises believed to be used for fortification purposes.
Further investigation led officers to Oghara, where they arrested the gang leader, Abebo, along with two of his associates: Ebi Maye, 41, from Warri North LGA, and Happy Obegha, 39, from Edo State. During a search of their hideout, police recovered 247 rounds of live Submachine Gun (SMG) ammunition.
Initial findings suggest the group was planning multiple high-profile kidnappings, which were ultimately thwarted due to the swift intervention of the police.
In a separate operation, the Delta State Police Command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, cracked down on a suspected cybercrime hub in Effurun. On July 21, 2025, around 5:45 p.m., operatives raided a residence in Post Housing Estate following credible intelligence about ongoing internet fraud and suspected terrorism financing activities.
The raid led to the arrest of 33-year-old Kelvin Odini and 183 others involved in alleged online scam activities. Seized items included 273 laptops, 97 smartphones, an iPad, a table phone, nine laptop chargers, and two Wi-Fi routers.
All suspects are in custody as investigations continue to uncover the full scope of their activities and identify other collaborators.
Commissioner Abaniwonda praised the teams for their bravery, swift action, and professionalism. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to aggressive intelligence gathering, community engagement, and sustained operations to rid Delta State of criminal networks.
