The Delta State Police Command has successfully dismantled a notorious three-man interstate kidnap syndicate that had been terrorizing multiple states across the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the command's spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, the arrests were carried out on Friday, May 16, 2025, by operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT).

Acting on credible intelligence, the police team tracked the suspects to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they apprehended the first member of the syndicate, a 21-year-old male, in the Elelenwo area of the city.

"Upon interrogation, the suspect led a police team to the arrest of their gang leader and coordinator at the same area in Port Harcourt," Edafe stated. "The suspected gang leader coordinates the various syndicates within the South-South and South-East regions."

Further investigation led to the arrest of a third suspect, a 38-year-old man residing in the Oil Mill area of Port Harcourt. According to the police, this suspect was responsible for spearheading criminal operations in the Enugu State axis of their network.

The suspects subsequently led the police operatives to a bush on the Ughelli-Ozoro Road in Delta State, where a cache of weapons belonging to the syndicate was recovered. The arsenal included one AK-47 rifle loaded with 23 rounds of live ammunition and a pump-action gun with seven rounds of live cartridges.

The police spokesman revealed that the criminal network had been operating across multiple states including Delta, Rivers, Imo, and Enugu, highlighting the extensive reach of their operations.

This breakthrough comes as part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes that have plagued various parts of Nigeria in recent years.

The Delta State Police Command has not yet disclosed further details about the specific kidnapping incidents linked to the syndicate or whether any victims were rescued during the operation.