A 60-year-old man who was abducted in Delta State has been rescued unharmed after security operatives engaged his suspected kidnappers during a coordinated operation in the Agbor area of the state.
The rescue operation took place at Alisime Village on Friday, September 4, 2026, following intelligence received by the police concerning the victim’s abduction.
Operatives of the Agbor Police Division, working alongside forest guards and local security personnel, moved into the area after receiving information about the victim’s whereabouts.
The security team encountered the suspected kidnappers during the operation, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The suspects were reportedly forced to retreat into the surrounding bush, with some believed to have sustained gunshot injuries while escaping.
The victim was recovered safely from the kidnappers’ custody and taken away from the area without further harm.
Following the encounter, security personnel recovered a mobile phone and an ATM card believed to be connected to the operation.
The area was subsequently placed under surveillance as security operatives intensified efforts to locate the fleeing suspects and prevent them from regrouping.
The rescue forms part of a series of security operations carried out across Delta State as the police command continues its efforts to disrupt kidnapping, cultism, armed crime and other forms of criminal activity.
In a separate operation in Abbi, personnel attached to the Command Anti-Cult Unit in Ozoro raided a location believed to be sheltering a wanted suspect.
The operation was carried out at about 9:30 p.m. after investigators received information that a person wanted in connection with an arson case in Owhelogbo Community was hiding at a brothel in the area.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 10 people, comprising seven females and three males.
Police also reported the recovery of substances suspected to be Tramadol, Swinol, Canadian Loud and Indian hemp during the operation.
The arrested individuals were taken into custody for profiling and further investigation. Those found to have committed offences are expected to face prosecution.
The command also recorded another security breakthrough in Oghara, where police personnel responded to a reported confrontation involving about eight people along Ibori Road.
Operatives of the Oghara Division, working with members of a civilian anti-cult group, moved to the area following the report.
The suspects reportedly fled after sighting the security team.
During the escape, one of the individuals, identified by the alias “Highest”, allegedly dropped a locally made cut-to-size firearm.
The weapon was recovered by the security personnel, while efforts were launched to identify and apprehend those who fled the scene.
The separate operations highlight the police command’s continued focus on intelligence gathering and rapid response to reports of criminal activity across the state.
For the family of the 60-year-old kidnap victim, the rescue brings an end to a frightening period of uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts.
Kidnapping remains a major security concern in parts of Nigeria, with criminal groups often taking advantage of forests and other difficult-to-access locations to hide victims and evade security agencies.
The use of forest guards and local security personnel alongside conventional police officers can provide additional knowledge of difficult terrain and improve the ability of security teams to track suspects operating in remote areas.
The latest operation also demonstrates the importance of timely information from members of the public in responding to kidnapping cases.
Police authorities have repeatedly encouraged residents to report suspicious movements, criminal hideouts and other information that could help security agencies prevent attacks or rescue victims.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel E. Erale, commended the officers, forest guards and other security personnel involved in the operations.
He directed the operatives to maintain pressure on the fleeing suspects and intensify efforts to dismantle criminal hideouts across the state.
The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.
While the rescued victim was reported to have escaped the incident unharmed, the suspected kidnappers remain at large following their retreat into the bush.
Security personnel are expected to continue the search for the suspects, particularly those believed to have sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The police have not indicated that any of the fleeing kidnappers has been arrested in connection with the rescue operation as of the latest report.
The command’s separate operations in Agbor, Abbi and Oghara have nevertheless resulted in the rescue of the kidnap victim, the arrest of 10 suspects in the Abbi operation and the recovery of a locally made firearm.
The police also recovered suspected illicit drugs during the raid in Abbi, while investigations continue into the various cases.
Authorities are expected to subject the arrested suspects to further questioning and profiling to determine whether they have links to other criminal activities or groups operating in the state.
For Delta residents, the rescue of the elderly victim is a positive development, particularly as security agencies continue efforts to prevent kidnapping networks from establishing permanent bases in remote communities.
The police have also appealed to residents to continue supporting security operations by providing useful information and avoiding actions that could compromise ongoing investigations.
The rescued man has now been reunited with safety, while the search for the suspected kidnappers continues.
The development is expected to place additional pressure on criminal groups operating in the area as security agencies intensify patrols, intelligence gathering and operations against suspected criminal hideouts.
