Police foil ambush, neutralize six kidnappers in Delta

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have gunned down six suspected kidnappers and armed robbers during a failed ambush along the Patani–Ughelli Expressway.

The incident occurred at 8:35 p.m. on july 8, 2025, near the Unenurhe axis while officers were escorting six recently arrested suspects from an arms recovery operation.

The team came under heavy fire from unidentified gunmen, in what authorities believe was a rescue attempt staged to free the detainees.

The suspects, arrested on July 6 in the Ebrumede area of Warri, were identified as Solomon Danisco (aka Piccolo), Nelson Jacob, Oruma Saturday, Whiskey Rufus (aka Asawana)—a notorious figure from Ewu community on the police watchlist—Olise Jude, and Precious Urhobowin.

Police had earlier recovered four locally made firearms and 21 live cartridges from the suspects in two separate busts.

According to sources, all six detainees sustained gunshot wounds during the ambush and were rushed to the General Hospital in Ughelli, where they were pronounced dead.

Preliminary investigations have linked the suspects to a criminal gang behind several high-profile kidnappings and robberies in Ughelli and neighboring areas.

Among their alleged crimes is the abduction of pharmacist Marrha Mudiaga Ese on June 9—she was released after two weeks in captivity—and an attempted kidnap of Benson Isigna in April, during which his Toyota Corolla was stolen in Iyede community.

The corpses of the suspects have been deposited at the General Hospital morgue in Ughelli as investigations continue.