By Oluwayemi Davidson, Warri
A combined security team comprising the Police and Army personnel in Delta State has arrested a serial rapist and commercial motorcycle rider who specializes in picking young girls as passengers at night, only to divert them into the bush, rob them of their belongings and thereafter forcefully have unlawful carnal knowledge of them while threatening them with dagger.
The culprit, one Ovie Michael ‘m’, aged 35years old, was arrested at about 2130hrs, on March 19, 2021, after series of intelligence gathering by cultivation of informants by men of Oghara Divisional Police.
Confirming the incident in a signed press release made available to journalists on Monday, the acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Delta State Command, DSP Edafe Bright disclosed that nine handsets of different makes including that of his last victim who made a distress call to the police, were recovered from the suspect.
Also recovered from him was an Iphone valued at N400,000, nine female hand bags, two pairs of eye glasses, five phone chargers, two ATM cards and 13 sim cards were.
The police spokesman explained that investigation is ongoing in the matter.
Earlier that day, at about 0846hrs, some vigilante members led by one Kess Opia reported that one of their members, Monday Mila, ‘m’ was kidnapped by suspected herdsmen along his farm road in Umutu.
The Divisional Poluce Officer, Umutu Division, l CSP Patience Ugbe immediately mobilized a combined team of Police, Vigilantes and some youths to the bush in search of the victim,
In the ensuing pressure on the suspected kidnappers, they abandoned the victim and fled while the victim was cinsequently rescued and reunited with his family.
The police said they are intensifying efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects.
On the 20th of March, 2021 at about 1545hrs, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives in the State, while on patrol along Hard Rock Hotel, Achala Ibusa, sighted three suspected young men and flagged them, but on sighting the police, they took to their heels and ran into the bush.
They were chased but escaped and threw away a small bag in their possession.
When searched, a locally revolver pistol loaded with four 7.62mm live ammunition and another locally made pistol with five live cartridges were recovered from ghe bandoned bag.
Meanwhile, police manhunt is being intensified on the fleeing suspect.
The RRS operatives, also on March 20 at about 1620hrs, while on patrol around Bonsaac area Asaba, sighted two young men in a suspicious manner and confronted them.
They however took to their heels and were given hot chase by the operatives during which one Akpotha Ogheneyole Ernest ‘m’ 28yrs of Jahbuze Bonsaac Asaba was arrested.
Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed his membership of Buccaneers confraternity cult group.
A search warrant was eventually executed in his house/premises, and buccaneers regalia with its insignia was recovered.
On Sunday, 21/3/2021 at about 1620hrs, based on the intelligence gathered, and long term monitoring by the men of A Division Warri, the DPO mobilized a team of policemen and stormed a black spot within Open Heaven Hotel premises close to the swimming pool, Iffiekporo community where one Lucky Afejuku ‘m’ was arrested with 47 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, 10 pieces of skunk weeds popularly known as SK in transparent plastic containers and five bottles of codeine syrup of 100 milligrams each.
The suspect confessed to the crime for which he was arrested as investigation is ongoing.