In a high-stakes operation, operatives from the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Unit (CP-SAT) have taken down a deadly kidnapping syndicate believed to be behind a recent wave of high-profile abductions in Delta State.
Four suspected kidnappers, including the group’s alleged leader Abubakar Usman, alias “Shehu,” were neutralized in a fierce gun battle on Friday near Issele-Uku. The gang was reportedly responsible for the abduction of a medical doctor on April 6, for whom a ransom of N15 million had been paid, as well as the kidnapping and murder of realtor Esther Ojoh.
The successful sting followed Usman’s earlier arrest and the intelligence that operatives subsequently gathered. Acting swiftly, the CP-SAT team led by ASP Julius Robinson stormed the gang’s hideout at around 11:00 a.m. The operation turned violent when Usman attempted to flee and alerted his armed associates, leading to a deadly exchange of gunfire.
All four suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the General Hospital in Ogwashi-Uku. Police recovered three AK-47 rifles and 90 rounds of live ammunition from the scene.
Police spokesperson SP Edafe Bright noted that the operation sends a strong message to other criminal elements in the region. Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the officers for their bravery and thanked the public for its cooperation.
This marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing battle against kidnapping in Delta State, especially in hot zones like Asaba, Ogwashi-Uku, and Ubuluku.
