Police operatives in Delta State have rescued a 48-year-old woman who was kidnapped and held in the Ovade Forest in the Oghara area of the state.
The woman was rescued unhurt on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after police operatives and other security personnel engaged suspected kidnappers in a gun duel inside the forest.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the operation followed a distress call reporting the woman’s abduction.
Edafe said the Divisional Police Officer of Oghara Division led operatives of the division, the Quick Response Squad, vigilantes and hunters into the forest as part of efforts to rescue the victim.
“During the operation, about four suspected kidnappers engaged the team in a gun duel but were forced to retreat, abandoning the victim, who was rescued unhurt,” the statement said.
The operatives reportedly pursued the fleeing suspects, leading to the discovery of one unidentified suspect and the arrest of another, identified as Abubakhar Sani, who sustained gunshot injuries.
Police said both suspects were later confirmed dead at a hospital.
A dagger, NIN slip, OPay Verve card, Tecno mobile phone and other personal effects were recovered during the operation.
The rescued woman was said to be stable and undergoing debriefing, while police operatives continued efforts to apprehend the remaining fleeing suspects.
The latest operation was part of a series of anti-crime operations carried out by the Delta State Police Command, which also resulted in the arrest of 54 suspected cultists and the recovery of a locally made gun, live ammunition and suspected cannabis.
Police said 30 suspects, comprising 29 males and one female, were arrested on September 19 during a suspected cult initiation gathering in Eku.
The suspects were allegedly linked to the initiation of new members into the Black Axe Confraternity and were transferred to the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Sector 2, Ozoro, for further investigation.
Further intelligence obtained during the investigation reportedly led police to Obiaruku on September 20, where another 20 suspects, including 15 males and five females, were arrested over suspected cult-related activities.
In a separate operation in Ubulu-Uku, four suspected cultists were arrested in connection with an alleged cult-related killing.
The suspects were identified as Okwudili Ozah, 34; Chekwube Onwuka, 18; Onyebe Emmanuel, 19; and Ozoremenem Izuchukwu, 21.
Police said the four suspects were suspected members of the Supreme Vikings and Eiye confraternities and were handed over to CACU operatives in Asaba for further investigation.
A locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge and a quantity of substance suspected to be cannabis were recovered during the operation.
The alleged victim of the killing was taken to a medical facility, where he was confirmed dead, while his remains were deposited at a mortuary for autopsy.
The police said investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and the individual roles of the suspects.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel Erale, commended the police operatives and other security stakeholders involved in the operations.
Eralе reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in the state.
He warned criminal elements to desist from their activities or face prosecution, assuring residents that the command would continue efforts to dismantle criminal networks, recover illegal weapons and bring perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.
