Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a suspected cop killer and dismantled a child-trafficking syndicate.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday, said the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team arrested a 35-year-old man, Ogaga Dickson, for allegedly killing CSP Hassan Jega, the Divisional Police Officer of the Agbarho Division in Delta State.
Adejobi said Ogaga was apprehended on 1 November 2024, weeks after CSP Jega was killed during a gun battle between his team and the assailants on 14 October 2024.
He added that operatives had previously neutralised four members of the gang during a raid on their hideout.
The statement partly read, “On 1 November 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Ogaga Dickson, male, 35 years, a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate responsible for the death of CSP Hassan Jega, the DPO of Agbarho Division, Delta State. Jega was killed on 14 October 2024 during a fierce gun battle between a team of police officers led by the deceased DPO and the assailants after the team of policemen had foiled one of their robbery operations.
“The operatives had earlier stormed the gang’s den and engaged them in a fierce gun duel, leading to the neutralisation of four gang members.”
Adejobi stated that upon Ogaga’s arrest, the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one English pistol, one locally made pistol, ammunition of various calibres, and six exotic vehicles.
In another operation, Adejobi said operatives successfully dismantled a child-trafficking syndicate allegedly led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State.
During the operation, five children aged between 2 and 4, who had been abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, were rescued.
He said, “Similarly, police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard, male, of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State, on 2 December 2024.
“The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2 and 4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, Nanman Puntel, and Peter Ukwuani.
“Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to abducting and selling 13 children at varying prices. All the children have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.”
Adejobi further stated that, in line with the IGP’s directive to all police detectives to mop up all illicit arms and ammunition in circulation, operatives of the FID-IRT successfully recovered 14 AK-47 rifles.
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