Sunday, April 13, 2025 - 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.
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.
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 gunshot
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.
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