A notorious kidnapping syndicate believed to be responsible for the murder of a palm wine tapper in Delta State has been neutralized by operatives of the Safe City Volunteer Foundation, led by human rights advocate Harrison Gwamnishu. The coordinated operation, carried out in Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area, resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and several mobile phones belonging to victims.
According to reports, the gang had been tracked for days after initially fleeing Edo State. The suspects reportedly moved through Ekpoma before diverting toward the Uromi/Ewohimi axis, eventually returning to Igbodo in Delta State. During this period, they abducted a woman and collected ransom. The victim has since identified the neutralized suspects as her abductors.
The same kidnapping ring is linked to a string of recent attacks, including last week’s abduction of a man in Emuhu, Delta State, and the kidnapping of two palm wine tappers. One of the tappers was killed for failing to meet the ransom demand, while the other had earlier regained freedom. The criminals were said to have moved through Abavo and crossed into Urhonigbe in Edo North using the railway corridor as an escape route.
Four days before the final raid, Gwamnishu and his volunteer team arrived in Obiaruku after receiving intelligence on the gang’s hideout. Working with community structures and local support, the team launched a decisive operation that successfully eliminated the suspects and recovered the weapon used in their criminal operations.
While local leaders, including security coordinators and community stakeholders, have been acknowledged for providing logistical support and air surveillance, the Delta State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Kidnapping cases have surged across parts of Delta and Edo States in recent months, intensifying calls for strengthened security collaboration between communities and security agencies.
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The Safe City Volunteer Foundation emphasized that the operation was one of many ongoing efforts aimed at restoring safety in rural and high-risk communities across the region.