The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the death of a suspected kidnap kingpin, Liberty Kunu, popularly known as “Commander Liberty” or “Double Agent,” following a violent gun battle between police operatives and members of his gang in the Ibada-Elume area of the state.
Police said the incident followed weeks of intelligence-driven operations after several complaints linked Kunu and his gang to kidnapping, abduction, and armed robbery in Sapele and neighbouring communities.
According to the police, the operation was triggered on January 17, 2026, after three persons were abducted at gunpoint at the Boyo Road junction in Sapele. One of the victims escaped while being taken into the bush and ran to a nearby police station to report the incident. The remaining two victims were robbed of valuables worth about ₦9 million.
One of the victims later narrated his ordeal, describing how he and his brother were abducted and taken into the bush by armed men.
“They took us this morning and moved us from one place to another,” the victim said.
“I wasn’t blindfolded, but my brother was. We were pushed into the bush, and they kept changing locations. They took our phones, money, and everything we had.”
He added that the kidnappers demanded a huge ransom and subjected them to harsh conditions.
“They collected almost everything from us — more than ₦9 million in total. They barely gave us water. I kept thinking of my family, my parents, and my child who is just 16 months old,” he said.
“My family had already gone to the police station and was following the matter in the news. I thank God and the police for acting fast.”
Preliminary investigations identified Liberty Kunu as the leader of the criminal syndicate, which allegedly operated under the cover of a security volunteer group known as SOS. Acting on the intelligence, operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), in collaboration with officers from the Sapele Division, moved in and arrested Kunu alongside other gang members.
Those arrested include Twale Golly (33), Michael Kunu (25), Israel Ugwu (30), Ogaga Power (43), and Mercy Kunu (28). During the operation, police recovered five pump-action guns, one Beretta pistol, and other crime-related items.
Further investigation revealed that Kunu was suspected to be a member of the Aye confraternity and was believed to have an AK-47 rifle. Police said he later led operatives to a hideout in the Ibada-Elume forest on January 28, 2026, where an AK-47 rifle and a locally fabricated revolver were recovered.
However, while operatives were returning from the operation along the Ibada-Elume express road, they were ambushed by armed men suspected to be members of the gang attempting to rescue Kunu. A gun battle ensued and lasted for over ten minutes.
Police said their operatives repelled the attack, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot injuries. The police operational vehicle was riddled with bullets during the exchange. Kunu and some police officers sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital.
Kunu was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital, and his body has been deposited at the General Hospital, Sapele. Other arrested suspects remain in custody, while investigations continue to track down the fleeing gang members.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, reiterated the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and violent crime across the state, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
