The Delta State Police Command has successfully rescued a kidnapped girl who was hypnotized by her abductor and arrested the suspect, Bila Halili, a 30-year-old man from Sokoto State. The police operation was carried out on September 15, 2025, in Oza-Nogogo community near Agbor, Delta State.
The rescued girl, Rebecca Mathew, is a 17-year-old from Bodinga community in Niger State, who was kidnapped on September 11, 2025. Her family had reported her missing on September 2, 2025.
Rebecca was lured away from her family home, hypnotized, and her SIM card destroyed to cut off communication with her family. The police acted on credible intelligence and raided the suspect’s hideout, rescuing Rebecca and arresting Halili.
“The DPO and his team, alongside members of the local vigilante, rescued the victim, identified as Rebecca Mathew of Bodinga Community in Washegu LGA, Niger State.
The suspect, Bila Halili, age 30 years of the Kosso community, Sokoto State, was arrested. Upon painstaking examination of the victim, the operatives discovered that she had been hypnotised, but she stated that the suspect lured her out of her family home and destroyed her SIM card to make her unreachable before taking her away.” Bright Edafe Delta state Police Public Relations Officer said.
The police are currently investigating the case, and Halili is in custody.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has commended the operatives for their swift action and emphasized the importance of community collaboration in combating crime.
