Five kidnapped victims rescued from abductors as squad storms forest

…N1.3m recovered, abductors flee

Five members of Elyon Paradise Ministry in Ogwashi-Uku Community, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, who were kidnapped last week by gunmen, have been rescued from their abductors.

Bright Edafe, a superintendent of Police (SP) and Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Police Command made the disclosure on Friday in Asaba.

The victims were kidnapped Friday, February 22 by gunmen who invaded their church premises during the night vigil. Two fingers of the pastor in charge of the church were also chopped off by the attackers resulting in him being admitted in a hospital.

Edafe said that through the efforts of the Operatives of Special Anti-Kidnaping and Cyber-Crime Squad of the Command, the five abducted victims have been rescued unhurt.

He said that Olufemi Abaniwonda, the Commissioner of Police (CP) took a decisive action to ensure the abducted members regained freedom.

He did this by deploying tactical teams to Ogwashi-uku which included relocating operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime squad to Ogwashi-uku with a clear mandate to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued unhurt.

“Consequently, on 25th February 2025, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime Squad led by the Commander, CSP Labe Joseph embarked on a sting operation alongside members of Ubuluku community vigilante, and other concerned indigenes of Ubuluku community, stormed Ubuluku forest where the victims were being held hostage.

The kidnappers on sighting the Police engaged the Police in a fierce gun duel but they could not withstand the superior firepower of the Police.

“They took to their heels and abandoned the victims. All five of the Kidnapped members of Elyon Paradise ministry were rescued unhurt and have since reunited with their families.

“Exhibits recovered from the scene include 13 rounds of expended cartridges, a bag containing the sum of One Million, three hundred thousand naira (N1,300,000) suspected to be ransom money. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”

CP Abaniwonda commended the gallantry of the operatives and the resilience of good-spirited members of Ubuluku community vigilantes and indigenes which includes some human rights activists who took it upon themselves to follow the Police into the bush during the rescue operation.