Police and Hunters Arrest Three Suspects in Delta Shootout

A coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force and local hunters has resulted in the arrest of three suspected kidnappers and armed robbers along a volatile stretch of the Asaba-Benin Expressway in Delta State. The suspects were apprehended following an early morning exchange of gunfire on November 23, 2025.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Oghenemaro Martins, 25; Tarebi Miracle Ogbada, 22; and Okorie James Kalu, 19. Their capture occurred near the Dustbin/Mango Tree area, a location frequently targeted by criminal elements.

The joint security team successfully recovered a cache of weapons and an assortment of stolen property, linking the suspects directly to a series of armed robberies and potentially kidnappings in the area.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the details in an official statement, outlining the sequence of events that led to the arrests.

Edafe explained that the operation was launched at approximately 06:30 hours on November 23, following a distress call reporting a robbery incident along the expressway.

The Commander of the Eagle Net Special Squad, SP Danyaya Inusa, swiftly mobilized surveillance teams. The operation was coordinated with operatives from the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), led by DSP Abu Joshua.

Upon the arrival of the security forces, the criminal gang attempted to ambush the operatives, initiating the confrontation with “sporadic gunfire,” according to the Police spokesperson.

The joint team, however, responded with “controlled precision,” successfully overpowering the assailants and forcing them to flee the scene in a disorganized retreat.

A “fierce chase” ensued, culminating in the successful apprehension of the three suspects: Martins, Ogbada, and Kalu.

During the chase, the fleeing suspects abandoned a black bag. Operatives recovered the bag, finding its contents to be crucial evidence directly linking the individuals to the robbery scene and their broader criminal activities.

Recovered items included significant weaponry: one English-made Beretta pistol, one locally made pistol, and four live 9mm Beretta ammunition, confirming the gang’s readiness for armed confrontation.

The Police also recovered an array of valuable stolen electronics and personal items, including one HP laptop, one iPhone S, one Tecno phone, one Samsung phone, one PS5 game console, two necklaces, and a laptop charger.

SP Edafe noted that the recovered electronics, jewelry, and the PlayStation 5 console matched the descriptions previously provided by multiple victims of armed robberies that occurred around the Okpanam–Asaba axis.

The successful chain of identification has firmly established a “direct nexus” between the recovered items, the arrested suspects, and the series of armed robberies currently under investigation by the police.

The Police Image maker confirmed that all three suspects remain in custody, and a comprehensive investigation is ongoing to uncover the full scope of their operations and identify any other individuals involved in the criminal gang.