In a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) engaged suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun battle during a raid on a forest between Issele-Asagba and Otulu.
Acting on intelligence gathered regarding a series of kidnappings in Ubuluku, Isseluku, Issele-Asagba, and surrounding communities, the police on April 21, 2025, launched a coordinated operation targeting hideouts linked to a notorious gang led by one Bellow Abubakar.
The operation first led officers to a hideout in Agu-Amawbia forest, Anambra State, where an AK-47 rifle and 132 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. Further investigations directed the team to another hideout in the Issele-Asagba-Otulu forest corridor.
According to police sources, as operatives approached the second location, they were ambushed by the suspects. However, the officers, prepared for confrontation, responded with superior firepower. The suspected kidnappers fled in various directions, many sustaining gunshot wounds.
Five suspects, including the gang leader Bellow Abubakar, were critically injured and later confirmed dead at the hospital. In the aftermath, police recovered two additional AK-47 rifles and 18 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the scene.
The Delta State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the remaining fleeing suspects.
SP Edafe Bright, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Command, confirmed the development and reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents.