Kidnap kingpin arrested, many killed after shoot-out with police in Delta

In a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping, operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a notorious kidnap kingpin, Abubakar Usman, also known as Shehu. Four of his gang members were gunned down during a fierce exchange of gunfire with the police.

The dramatic arrest took place during a sting operation carried out on Thursday, aimed at dismantling the gang’s criminal operations in the region.

The development was confirmed in a statement released on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the statement, the gang had been on the radar of security operatives for some time due to their involvement in multiple high-profile kidnapping cases and violent crimes across Delta State and beyond.

Adejobi said Usman was caught in Delta State and confessed to being the leader of a deadly kidnapping group.

“The Nigeria Police Force, in its quest to sustain the tempo of the fight against violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and banditry, has again recorded significant successes across the country.

“The police operatives attached to Delta State Command, on the 10th of April, 2025, in a sting operation on the activities of kidnappers within the state, arrested one Abubakar Usman ‘m’ AKA Shehu, who was identified as the leader of a deadly kidnapping gang.

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“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to multiple crimes, including the kidnapping of a medical doctor at Issele-uku, Delta State, the kidnapping of the wife and daughter of Mr Godwin Anuka at Ogwashi-Uku, and his subsequent murder, and also the kidnapping and murder of Ms Esther Ojoh at Ibusa,” he stated.

He added that Usman later led police officers to the gang’s hideout in a forest along the Asaba/Agbor Expressway.

There, the officers came under heavy gunfire from other gang members.

Adejobi added, “The suspect further led operatives to the gang’s hideout in a forest along Asaba/Agbor Expressway, where the operatives encountered the rest of the gang and came under heavy fire.

“In the ensuing gun duel, the operatives successfully neutralised four members of the gang and recovered three AK-47 rifles and 90 rounds of Live Ammunition.”

In a separate incident in Kano State on the same day, police arrested three suspects, Abdul Sadiq, 43; Ahmad Muazu, 22; and Aliyu Sharif, 40, at Dorayi Babba.

Acting on a tip-off, officers discovered 15 locally made revolver rifles, 102 live cartridges, and six used cartridges.

The police are now working to find the illegal factory producing the weapons and to arrest more suspects.

The police spokesman said, “Further investigation led to the recovery of 15 locally fabricated revolver rifles, 102 live cartridges, and 6 expended cartridges from the suspects. Investigations are being intensified to locate the factory where these illegal arms are being produced and arrest other culprits.”

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, praised the officers for their courage and commitment.

He said, “The Nigeria Police Force is committed to ending violent crimes and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians.”

Kidnap kingpin arrested, many killed after shoot-out with police in Delta

OAU student electrocuted while retrieving football from nearby compound

A Distant Learning Student (name withheld) in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has been confirmed the dead after he was electrocuted while trying to retrieve a ball from a compound.

The deceased, according to the school’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, was playing a football match with his colleagues when the ball went into a compound.

However, the student, in the course of retrieving the ball,  got electrocuted after touching a live wire on his way out.

“It is unfortunate that we recorded an incident that was not too palatable yesterday where we lost a prominent youngster. One of our CDL students who was aspiring to come to the university after the completion of the programme.

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“Report had it that they were playing football in the evening and the ball fell into a compound that was fenced and unknown to the young boy, he jumped into the fence because he was the one that played the ball into the compound and it was a rule that anybody who played the ball into the compound will go to retrieve it.

“In compliance with the rule, the boy went in there and we were told that that was the first time the boy would play with them. So, he went in there, retrieved the ball, and threw it out to his colleagues, but when he wanted to come out, he climbed the fence but unknowingly put his hand in a life wire and got electrocuted.

“It was when his colleagues felt he should have come back to the pitch that they went to check and saw that he was there shivering. They rushed to him, one of them picked a stick and removed the life wire from his hand, and rushed him to the facility at the Center for Distance Learning in the university.

“They said he was brought in dead and they took him to another hospital where they said the boy was already dead. The Director of the CDL, Professor Femi Koya had already contacted the parents to relate the unfortunate incident to them. We are sincerely sorry for what happened, and we pray that God Almighty will grant the parents, the university, his friends, and colleagues the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.” Olanrewaju said.

OAU student electrocuted while retrieving football from nearby compound

Bomb blast: Senator Ndume visits victims at hospital, offers financial support

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, on Sunday paid a sympathy visit to victims of the recent bomb blast that occurred along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road.

The lawmaker visited those who sustained various injuries and are currently receiving treatment at State Specialists Hospital in Maiduguri. Most of the victims are members of his constituency.

The tragic incident, which occurred last Saturday at about 11:30 am, was reportedly carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents who planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the route. The attack claimed several lives and left many injured.

Accompanied by key stakeholders from Borno South, Senator Ndume expressed deep concern over the resurgence of such deadly attacks in the region.

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While interacting with victims and their families, he reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the matter receives urgent attention at the federal level.

“This is a tragic reminder of the security challenges we still face. However, the government is doing everything humanly possible to prevent future occurrences and secure our communities.

“Let me commend Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who has since visited the victims at the treatment units in the hospital where he ordered their free medical care.

“ I want to use this opportunity to sympathize with families of those who lost their lives in the incident, and we pray for their souls to have Aljanatul Firdaus”, Ndume stated.

During the sympathy visit, the Senator gave each victim financial support, including other patients admitted to the female and male wards of the facility.

Bomb blast: Senator Ndume visits victims at hospital, offers financial support