By Augustine Ehikioya
Personnel of the Delta State Police Command have engaged suspected kidnappers in gun duel and eliminated four of them and recovered three AK47 rifles.
The operation followed the kidnap of a doctor at Issele-Uku on the 6th April, 2025 and his release on the 7th of April, 2025 after the kidnappers collected a ransom of fifteen million naira (N15,000,000) from the medical doctor and the driver.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, then directed operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team led by ASP Julius Robinson to embark on an intelligence-led investigation and ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to justice.
A statement by SP Edafe Bright, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), added “In complaince with the said directive, the Commander CP Special assignment team, ASP Julius Robinson led his team in a sting operation at about 2200hours of 10/04/2025 trailed and arrested one Abubakar Usman Popularly known as “Shehu” the suspect is the gang leader of a deadly kidnapping syndicate and responsible for series of kidnap at Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Ubulu-Uku and environs and also responsible for the kidnap of the Medical Doctor and collected a ransom of N15,000,000.
“They were also responsible for the kidnap of the wife and daughter of Mr Godwin Anuka after killing him at Ogwashi-Uku area as well.
“He also confessed to being responsible for the kidnap of a realtor Esther Ojoh at Ibusa whose corpse was later found on the 25th March, 2025.”
Acting on his confession at about 1100hours of 11th April, 2025, the statement said, the suspect led operatives to their hideout, a forest along Asaba/Agbor express road between Okpanam and Issele-Asagba where on the process of searching the area, suspect raised an alarm and fled to join his waiting gang members.
“The gang members engaged the team in a fierce gun duel during which four of the suspects, including the said Usman Abubakar, sustained serious gunshot injuries. Three AK-47 rifles, Ninety (90) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered.
“The injured suspects were taken to General Hospital Ogwashi-Uku where they were all confirmed dead .”it stated.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, the statement said, commended the gallantry of Operatives of CP-SAT, noting that their braveness is worth emulating and urged other officers to emulate them.
He also thanked all the concerned people of Delta State for trusting the Police with useful, credible, and timely information and solicited for more support, assuring them that the Command under his leadership will not disappoint.