A notorious suspected bandit identified as Abubakar Usman has been arrested by a joint security team comprising the Delta State SafeCity Security Service and operatives of the Delta State Police Command following a coordinated operation in the state’s forest.
The suspect was apprehended after the successful rescue of Mrs. Blessing Chiedu, an indigene of Umunede Kingdom, who was kidnapped on July 2, 2026, along the Ani-Ifekide Farm Road in Ubulu-Uku, Delta State.
According to security officials, the kidnappers had demanded N100 million ransom from the victim’s family before security agencies launched an intensive rescue mission.
The spokesperson for the SafeCity Security Service, Harrison Gwamnishu, disclosed the development in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.
Gwamnishu explained that immediately after receiving intelligence on the abduction, he alerted the Delta State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Asaba, led by CSP Osakpolor, which mobilised officers for a rescue operation.
He revealed that security operatives deployed the state’s Hydra Tech Surveillance System to track the kidnappers’ movements, leading to the successful rescue of Mrs. Chiedu along the Ubulu-Unor/Ashama Road without any injuries.
Following the victim’s rescue, the security team intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
According to Gwamnishu, surveillance technology later traced the gang to their hideout inside the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest, where security operatives launched another operation during the early hours of Wednesday.
He said the suspects engaged the joint security team in a gun battle before being overwhelmed.
“One of the most wanted suspects, Abubakar Usman, was successfully arrested, while other members of the gang escaped deeper into the forest with their firearms, Gwamnishu stated.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect and his gang have allegedly carried out several kidnapping operations across Igbodo, Umunede, and neighbouring communities in Delta State, collecting millions of naira in ransom from victims’ families.
Security agencies have commenced efforts to track down the fleeing gang members and recover their weapons.
The latest operation underscores the ongoing collaboration between the Delta State Police Command and the SafeCity Security Service in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
Authorities have assured residents that intelligence-driven operations will continue until all criminal hideouts within the state’s forests are dismantled and those responsible for violent crimes are brought to justice.
