Following the kidnapping of a Doctor at Issele-uku on the 6th of April 2025 and his release on the 7th of April 2025 after collecting a ransom of N15,000,000 from the medical doctor and the driver.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, directed the operatives of the CP-Special assignment team to embark on an intelligence-led investigation.
The CP said: “On the 10th of April 2025, they trailed and arrested one Abubakar Usman Popularly known as ‘Shehu,’ the gang leader of a deadly kidnapping syndicate, allegedly responsible for series of kidnapping at Ogwashi-uku, Ibusa, Ubuluku and environs and also responsible for the kidnap of the medical doctor. The gang collected N15,000,000 as ransom.
“They were also responsible for the kidnapping of the wife and daughter of Mr. Godwin Anuka after killing him at the Ogwashi-uku area as well. Shehu confessed to being responsible for the abduction of a realtor, Esther Ojoh, at Ibusa, whose corpse was later found on the 25th of March 2025.
“Acting on his confession at about 11 am on 11th April 2025, the suspect led operatives to their hideout, a forest along Asaba/Agbor express road between Okpanam and Issele-Asagba, where in the process of searching the Area, the 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 and 90 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered. The injured suspects were taken to the general hospital in Ogwashi-uku, where they were all confirmed dead.”
