Police in the Delta State have arrested a suspected kidnapper who kidnapped and murdered real estate agent Esther Ojoh in the state’s Ibusa area in March and killed others in exchange for gunfire.
Lib earlier reported that Esther was kidnapped on Monday, March 24 when he returned from the scene on Monday, March 24. It was gathered that the deceased went with three other people to inspect a piece of land near the Nigerian Admiral University in Ibusa, when they were attacked by gunmen. However, her body was found in Ibusa community in the northern local government area of Osimili, 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 The special mission team of CP will conduct 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 sing 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 around. The suspect was responsible for kidnapping the doctor and charged a ransom of #15,000,000, according to EDAFE.
“They are also responsible for killing Mr. Godwin Anuka’s wife and daughter in Ogwashiuku area. He also admitted that the body was kidnapped by Esther Ojoh, a real estate agent in Ibusa, and was later found on March 25, 2025. ”
EDAFE mentioned that the suspect acted on April 11, 2025 on about 1,100 hours on confession, brought agents to their hideout, a forest along Asaba/Agbor Express Road between Okpanam and Issele-Asagba, and during the search for the area, the suspect raised an alarm and fled the waiting gang members.
Gang members fought a fierce gun showdown with the team, including four suspects, including Usman Abubakar, who suffered severe gun injuries and later died.
“Three AK-47 rifles were restored, ninety (90) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. The injured suspects were taken to Ogwashiuku in the General Hospital, where they were all identified as de@d. ”’
EDAFE added that state police commissioner CP Olufemi Abaniwonda praised the bravery of the CP-Sat operators, pointing out that their courage deserves to be emulated and urged other officers to follow their example. He also thanked all involved in the Delta State for trusting the police with useful, trustworthy and timely information and soliciting additional support to ensure that their orders under his leadership do not disappoint.
