Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have thwarted an alleged plot to kidnap a pastor and a retired school principal in Ughelli, arresting a suspect connected to the plan.
During the operation, police also recovered a single-barrel gun and two live cartridges.
The command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the arrest was made after operatives of the ‘A’ Division in Ughelli acted on credible intelligence. According to Edafe, the suspect—identified as 26-year-old Jeremiah Kwane—allegedly attempted to recruit another individual into a kidnapping syndicate to carry out the abduction.
“On July 31, 2026, operatives of ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, acting on credible intelligence, foiled a planned kidnapping after receiving information that Jeremiah Kwane, 26, had attempted to recruit an individual into a kidnapping syndicate with the intention of abducting a pastor and a retired school principal in Ughelli,” Edafe stated.
He added that the intelligence led to the suspect’s immediate arrest at his workplace in Ughelli. A search during the operation resulted in the recovery of a single-barrel gun and two live cartridges. The suspect is reportedly assisting the police with ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s resolve to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes. He encouraged residents to support the police by providing timely and credible information to help enhance security across the state.
Earlier, PUNCH Metro reported on June 26 that Delta State Police Command officers arrested four suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in separate operations across the state, recovering firearms and other items. Edafe had previously stated that on June 23, at around 3:00pm, the police received a report leading to the arrest of two suspects linked to an attempted robbery.
