The police in Delta state have arrested one of the suspected kidnappers who abducted and murdered a realtor, Esther Ojoh, in the Ibusa area of the state in March this year and killing others in an exchange of gunfire.
LIB had earlier reported that Esther was abducted on Monday, March 24, on her way returning from a site. It was gathered that the deceased, with three other people, went to inspect a piece of land close to the Nigerian Admiralty University, Ibusa, when they were attacked by gunmen. However, her body was found on Wednesday in the Ibusa community, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state. Read here.
In a statement released on Saturday, April 12, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Bright Edafe, said following the kidnap of a doctor at Issele-uku on the 6th April 2025 and his release on the 7th of April 2025 after collecting a ransom of fifteen million naira (#15,000,000) from the medical doctor and the driver, the commissioner of Police Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda directed operatives of CP-SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT TEAM to embark on an intelligence-led investigation and ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to justice.
He mentioned that in compliance with the said directive, the commander, CP Special assignment team, ASP Julius Robinson led his team in a sting operation at about 10pm on April 10, trailed and arrested one Abubakar Usman Popularly known as “Shehu” who is suspected to be the gang leader of a deadly kidnapping syndicate and responsible for series of kidnap at Ogwashi-uku, Ibusa, Ubuluku and environs. Edafe stated that the suspect is responsible for the kidnap of the medical doctor and collected a ransom of #15,000,000.
‘’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.”
Edafe mentioned that acting on his confession at about 1100hours of 11th April 2025, 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 gun shot injuries and later died.
‘’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 de@d.”
Edafe added that the state commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, 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.
