Photo: Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun
By Didimoko A. Didimoko
In a major win for law enforcement, Nigerian police have arrested one of Delta State’s most wanted criminals—Abubakar Usman, popularly known as Shehu—a suspected mastermind behind a wave of high-profile kidnappings and killings in the region.
The arrest was made on April 10, 2025, during a targeted sting operation carried out by the Delta State Police Command. According to Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, Usman was identified as the leader of a deadly kidnapping gang responsible for several brutal crimes.
During questioning, the suspect confessed to a string of attacks, including the abduction of a medical doctor in Issele-Uku, the kidnapping of a woman and her daughter in Ogwashi-Uku, and the murder of the victims’ husband and father, Mr. Godwin Anuka. He also admitted to the kidnapping and killing of Ms. Esther Ojoh in Ibusa.
Following his confession, Usman led officers to the gang’s hideout, hidden deep within a forest along the Asaba–Agbor expressway. But what was supposed to be a follow-up raid quickly turned violent.
Upon arrival, the police team came under heavy fire from the remaining gang members, leading to an intense gun battle, which led to the death of four kidnappers and the recovery of three AK-47 rifles and 90 rounds of live ammunition from the scene.
On the same day, in an unrelated operation in Kano State, police arrested three suspects—Abdul Sadiq, 43; Ahmad Muazu, 22; and Aliyu Sharif, 40—in the Dorayi Babba area. Acting on credible intelligence, officers uncovered 15 locally made revolver rifles, 102 live cartridges, and six spent cartridges.
The Nigeria Police Force emphasized its ongoing commitment to dismantling criminal networks and taking illegal firearms off the streets. Authorities continue to encourage the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as efforts to restore safety and order across the country push forward.
