Police kill kidnap kingpin, three others, recover 11 AK-47 rifles in Delta

Operatives of Delta state police command have killed the leader of a gang of kidnappers who abducted a medical doctor and his driver recently in Issele Uku after collecting a ranson of N15 million before they were released.

Parading suspects of various crimes in his first quarterly briefing in Asaba on Wednesday, the state commissioner of police, Olufemi Abaniwonda disclosed that the gang leader one Abubakar Usman popularly known as “Shehu” and other members of the gang were allegedly responsible for series of kidnapping at Ogwashi-uku, Ibusa, Ubuluku and environs

The commissioner said the group members were also responsible for the kidnap of the wife and daughter of one Mr. Godwin Anuka after killing him in Ogwashi-uku area adding that Shehu confessed to being responsible for the kidnap of a realtor Esther Ojoh at Ibusa whose corpse was later found on the 25th March 2025.

According to him the police trailed and arrested the notorious kingpin on April 10 following credible intelligence reports.

He said, “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. Three AK-47 rifles, Ninety rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered.

“The injured suspects were taken to general hospital Ogwashi-uku, where they were all confirmed dead.

CP Abaniwonda disclosed how two gun runners disguised as palm oil and garri traders concealed seven pump action guns and cartridges under the back seat of their vehicle who were arrested in Onicha Igbo along Asaba -Agbor -Benin expressway.

The suspects, one 69 year old Yahuza Magaji and Abba Sani , aged 17 years both of Lere local government area of Kaduna State were arrested.

“On 06/03/2025 at about 1100hrs the command’s operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 while on stop and search duty along Asaba/Benin expressway by National Open University Onicha-Ugbo, intercepted a Navy Blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM driven by one Yahuza Magaji (m) aged 69 years in company of one Abba Sani (m) aged 17years both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.

They disguised as traders transporting Palm Oil and Garri. During the search of the vehicle, Seven pump action guns five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle were recovered.

Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State. Investigation is ongoing.

During the period under review, the commissioner said 11 AK-47, 1 G-3 rifles ,9 Beretta pistols , 19 single barrel/cut-to-size guns, 13 pump action guns and 5612 ammunition and cartridges were recovered.

Thirteen Kidnapped victims were rescued , 14 vehicles , 53 arms were recovered , he said, adding that a total number of suspects arrested during the period were 106 with robbery and kidnapping topping the list with 35 and 24 respectively while cult cases was 22 and murder 21.

The commissioner urged the people of the state to unite and support the police in the fight against criminals saying to “security is everybody’s business, and the Police in Delta State would not have recorded these achievements without support and partnership.

“I therefore solicit continuous support and partnership with the command because together, we can keep Delta State safe for all. I leave you with this quote “if you see something”.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE