Delta State Police have arrested one Destiny Lawrence in connection with the abduction and gruesome murder of 8-year-old Progress Ifeanyi. According to the
Delta State Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda at a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters said Lawrence allegedly conspired with a native doctor, who is currently on the run, to lure the young boy to an uncompleted building where he was brutally killed and mutilated.
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CP Abaniwonda also said a native of Owa-Alero (name withheld) reported that his 8yrs old son progress Ifeanyi was missing and that the last they heard was that one of their customers named Destiny Lawrence who usually come to their shop to patronize them went away with him. But on noticing the son was missing, he asked the said Destiny who denied knowledge of the whereabouts of his son. However later that day, the corpse of his son was found in an uncompleted building and some of his body parts were missing.
He stated that the suspect One Destiny Lawrence was arrested and during interrogation, the suspect confessed that one native Doctor Known as Jonah from Otolokpo community contracted him to look for a small boy for him for the sum of thirty thousand naira (N30,000). “He then lured the deceased to where the native doctor was waiting, then the native doctor took the deceased to an uncompleted building and slit his throat. The suspect is in custody while a manhunt for the fleeing native doctor is ongoing.” The Police Boss added.
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The Commissioner pointed out that On 25th November 2024 at about 1600hours, operatives of the Special Anti-kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad acting on intelligence arrested Osageduwa Goodluck aged 51yrs and one other suspect aged 50yrs opposite one of the new generation banks in Asaba.
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He explained that the arrest was due to incessant complaints the command has been receiving from members of the public of the activities of the suspects who trails customers while leaving the bank, breaking into their vehicle and cart away with their money and other valuables.
The CP noted that the suspects stated that they always park opposite the bank using a tinted vehicle till they identify their target, noting that the suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
Commissioner Abaniwonda pointed out that on 4th December 2024, a case of a missing 10-month-old child named Prevail Jonathan was reported.
He added that while at the station alongside the mother of the child, the Police received a call that a child was found floating at the Aviara community river. “The child was brought to the Station and it was discovered that it is the body of the missing child. During the investigation, the mother of the child One Blessing Ibuku ‘f’ confessed that she was the one who threw the baby into the river on the 31st of November 2024. He further explained
“According to the suspect, she threw the baby away because her friends and other girls were making fun of her that the child did not have a father. The suspect is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police Delta Command, CP Abaniwonda further said on 21st November, 2024, at about 1000hours, a man (name withheld) reported at ‘B’ Division Asaba that on 20th November, 2024, at about 0700hours, which his wife (name withheld) aged 28yrs was resting in the house, one Friday Emegbu ‘m’ aged 36yrs entered his house, overpowered his wife and raped her.
“On the strength of his complaint, operatives of the division acted swiftly and arrested the suspect. Investigation is ongoing.
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The Delta State Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda maintained that on 4thDecember, 2024, a Patrol team from Ekpan Police Station while on surveillance patrol along Warri-Sapele road in Aziza community, intercepted one luxury bus with reg. no LSD-909-XS belonging to Young shall grow parked in the bush with four occupants.
He further explained that upon interrogation of the occupants, they could not immediately give any satisfactory account of themselves, hence they were arrested.
“A preliminary investigation later revealed that they stole the luxurious Bus from Aba in Abia State where it was parked and brought to Warri Delta state to sell it for Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) to scrap dealers.
“The suspects includes Michael Odugbo ‘m’ aged 48yrs, Peter Udemezue ‘m’ aged 27yrs, Emeka Okorafor ‘m’ aged 27yrs, and Kelechi Njikonye ‘m’ aged 29yrs old. They are presently in custody and investigation is ongoing.
He stressed that the Command has recorded significant success in the fight against crime and criminality since his assumption on duty as the 22nd Commissioner of Police in Delta State.
He highlighted that the mandate given to him by the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetoku, is that the Police in Delta State must perform at optimal level and ensure that Deltans sleep with their two eyes close.
He affirmed that the Command has reasonably delivered on its mandate, under his watch.
The CP further highlighted that the command arrested over six hundred and seventy-eight suspects which includes One Hundred and Thirty (130) suspected armed robbers, Eighty-Eight (88) suspected kidnappers, Seventy-Six (76) murder suspects, Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine (329) suspected cultists, Fifty-Four (54) suspects arrested for rape and defilement offenses. A total number of One Hundred and Fifty (150) firearms which includes Thirty-Two (32) AK-47/AK-49 Rifles, Twenty-Seven (27) Beretta pistols, Seventy-Two (72) single barrel/locally made cut-to-size guns, and Nineteen Pump action guns were recovered and lastly, a total of Five Thousand and Forty-Two (5,042) rounds of ammunition/cartridges were also recovered within the period under review.
The Commissioner presented the command’s scorecard in summary
1. Number of AK-47/AK-49 rifles recovered – 32
2. Number of Beretta pistols recovered – 27
3. Number of single barrel/cut-to-size guns recovered – 72
4. Number of pump action guns recovered – 19
5. Number of ammunition and cartridges recovered – 5,042
Total number of Arms recovered – 150
SUSPECTS ARRESTED
1. Suspected Armed Robbers arrested – 131
2. Suspected kidnappers arrested – 88
3. Murder suspects arrested – 76
4. Suspects cultists arrested – 329
5. Rape/defilement suspects – 54
Total number of suspects arrested – 678
Number of Kidnapped victims rescued – 48
Number of recovered vehicle – 27
He reiterated the fact that 85% of suspects arrested within the period under review were largely males and mostly youths. This clearly shows that parenting the male child is in decline, parents are therefore urged to look out for their male children as much as they do to their female children. “They should pay attention to their company, peer groups, and whereabouts. They are also advised to continue to talk to their children to shun all forms of cult-related activities, drug abuse, and other criminal vices.”
CP Abaniwonda affirmed the ban on tinted vehicles and the use of fireworks in Delta is still in force. This has become necessary to properly checkmate the activities of criminal elements who may want to take advantage of it, advising Deltans to abide by these directives as anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“I also assure members of the public of the command’s commitment in ensuring that we record a crime-free yuletide while admonishing all residents to be law-abiding.
Deltans are urged to report any suspicious persons or movement within the environment either by reporting at the nearest Police station or call any of the following control room numbers
– 08036684974 – 08114895600 – 08025666914.” He however said.
