Police battle kidnappers, rescue five kidnapped worshippers in Delta

•Recover N1.3m ‘ransom money’

From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri

The police have rescued five members of Elyon Paradise Ministry Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, who were kidnapped while attending a vigil at the church.

The victims where rescued unhurt, yesterday after the operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime squad, stormed Ubuluku forest where they were being held hostage. State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe who confirmed this in a statement, said that the victims were unfortunately kidnapped on February 22 while attending the church service.

He said that following the directive by the commissioner of with a clear mandate to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued unhurt, the Special Anti-Kidnapping and cyber-crime Squad led by the Commander, CSP Labe Joseph had embarked on a sting operation alongside members of Ubuluku community vigilante, and other concerned indigenes of Ubuluku community. “Consequently, on 25th  February 2025, the operatives stormed Ubuluku forest where the victims were being held hostage The kidnappers, on sighting the police, engaged them 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 N1, 300, 000 suspected to be ransom money. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”

Commenting on the operation, the police commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda commended the gallantry of the operatives and the resilience of good-spirited members of Ubuluku community vigilantes and indigenes, including human rights activists who took it upon themselves to follow the police into the bush during the rescue operation.