Police foil tried kidnap, arrest wished gang chief, others

Operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team(CP-SAT) led by ASP Julius Robinson have foiled a kidnap attempt and arrested forty-two year old leader of the gang, Owei Abebo a.k.a “Adusa.”

Adusa had been on the Delta State Police Command’s watchlist since 2021 over the planned abduction of a high profile individuals in Sapele, Oghara and its environs.

Also arrested were four others, including, sixty three(63)year old Joseph Saniyo, primary spiritualist of the criminal gang.

He was said to have been in possession of three live tortoises and other fetish items believed to be used in criminal fortification rituals.

Thirty five(35)year old suspected herbalist responsible for ritual preparations for the gang, Forty one(41)year old Ebi Maye and thirty nine(39) year old Happy Obegha. They were arrested on different dates.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement in Warri.

He said,”On 19th July 2025, in the early hours of the day, the operatives arrested one Peter Benson, a 35-year-old male suspect of Kwale in Ndokwa LGA, Delta State, and a suspected spiritual herbalist responsible for ritual preparations for the criminal gang.”

“Following intensive interrogation, Peter Benson led operatives to another suspect, one Joseph Saniyo, 63 years old, of Ajakorama Community, Ovia South-West LGA, Edo State.

“Saniyo, identified as the syndicate’s primary spiritualist, was found in possession of three live tortoises and other fetish items believed to be used in criminal fortification rituals.

“Acting swiftly on further intelligence provided by the arrested suspects, operatives stormed Oghara and successfully apprehended the ring leader, Owei Abebo a.k.a “Adusa”, aged 42, along with the following male accomplices: Ebi Maye, 41 years, from Poloborbor Community in Warri North LGA, Delta State; and Happy Obegha, 39 years, of Ajakoroma Community, Ovia North-East LGA, Edo State.

“During a thorough search of the suspect’s hideouts, the operatives recovered two hundred and forty-seven (247) rounds of live ammunition for a Submachine Gun (SMG) rifle.”

He added that,”Preliminary investigation revealed that their latest plot involved planned coordinated kidnappings across Sapele and Oghara which was successfully foiled after their arrest.”