Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Delta State Police Command saturday said it had rescued a naval personnel, Kola Omoniyi, who was reportedly abducted on Monday along Sapele-Warri Expressway.
The State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Mustafa confirmed Ominiyi’s release, noting that the rescued naval personnel had been taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to him, the police combed the area and the suspects were arrested around Sapele area. The naval officer is receiving treatment at the Navy Hospital in Effurun. Investigation is still ongoing.
Before Omoniyi was rescued, his abductors had called the relatives of the victim demanding for a N4 million ransom for his release.
But the naval personnel was rescued in the early hours of Saturday by crack detectives deployed for his search by Delta police command.
Security sources disclosed to THISDAY that four of the abductors were arrested by the crack police team that combed the forest close the scene of the incident for days.
One of the sources said Omoniyi was rescued by the police investigators, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the C’ Division in charge of Asaba and a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Anieteh Eyoh
He said the police team that went after the kidnappers’ gang, zeroed it in on Ibada Elume community in Sapele Local Government area of the state, arrested some of the conspirators of the crime, which led to the eventual release of Omoniyi.
He added that the success of the rescue of the navy official was “to the credit of the use of cutting edge technology in policing. The Eyoh-led team had located the area of the criminals’ hideout and went after some of their abductors. That is how they managed to get the man out. Four of the suspects are now in police custody.
Another source in the police command told THISDAY that the mastermind of the crime was still on the run and was being sought for.
