By Efe Onodjae

Killers of the palm-wine tapper murdered last week in Delta State have been neutralised, and an AK-47 rifle recovered, according to the former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Civil Society and Youth Mobilisation, Harrison Gwamnishu, who coordinated the operation under Safe City Hydra Intelligence.

The criminal gang was taken down in a joint intelligence-led operation spanning Edo and Delta states, following days of tracking their movement across multiple communities.

Gwamnishu, who had earlier posted video updates on his Facebook page, said the breakthrough was the culmination of weeks of surveillance after a spike in rural kidnappings. The final raid led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and several mobile phones allegedly belonging to the suspects.
According to the Safe City Volunteer Foundation, the gang had been under close monitoring after a series of coordinated abductions. Investigators traced them from Auchi in Edo State to Ekpoma, then toward the Uromi–Ewohimi axis as they attempted to evade security pressure.

The suspects later crossed into Igbodo, Delta State, where they abducted a woman and collected ransom. The victim has since identified the neutralised suspects as her abductors.

Only a week earlier, the gang had launched multiple attacks in Emuhu, Delta State, kidnapping a man and later abducting two palm-wine tappers. One of the tappers was murdered after failing to meet the ransom deadline, sparking public outrage.
The criminals were said to have escaped through Abavo into Urhonigbe in Edo North via the railway corridor.

Gwamnishu explained that the Safe City team arrived Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area, four days ago to begin ground operations. The mission received full backing from the Chairman of Ukwuani LGA, Hon. (Barr.) Possible Ajede, who deployed personnel from the State Command’s Special Anti-Cult Unit (SACU) along with two trained civilian anti-cult operatives.

After several rounds of air surveillance to narrow the gang’s hideout, operatives stormed the location earlier today, engaging the kidnappers in a shootout that ended in their neutralisation, with one AK-47 rifle recovered.

In a statement, Gwamnishu thanked the LGA chairman for his “unwavering support and personal commitment,” while also acknowledging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Monday Okpebholo for ensuring full mobilisation of security assets across both states.

The Safe City Volunteer Foundation, whose intelligence contributions recently helped foil attempted kidnappings near Umunede and across the Agbor–Ekpon axis, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting formal security agencies in battling rural banditry.

Attempts to obtain official comments from the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, proved abortive, as he did not respond to messages sent to him as at press time.