Notorious bandit kingpin Abubakar Usman arrested after fierce gun battle in Delta

The Delta State SafeCity Security Service, in collaboration with operatives of the Delta State Police Command, has arrested a notorious wanted bandit, Abubakar Usman, following the rescue of a kidnap victim.

The suspect was arrested after the abduction of Mrs Blessing Chiedu, a native of Umunede Kingdom, who was kidnapped on July 2, 2026, along the Ani-Ifekide Farm Road in Ubulu-Uku. Her abductors reportedly demanded ₦100 million ransom from her family.

The spokesperson for the SafeCity Security Service, Harrison Gwamnishu, disclosed the development in a post on X on Wednesday.

According to Gwamnishu, the incident was immediately escalated to the Delta State Police Command, prompting the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Asaba, led by CSP Osakpolor, to launch a rescue operation.

He said the team deployed the Hydra Tech Surveillance System to track the kidnappers, leading to the successful rescue of Mrs Chiedu along the Ubulu-Unor/Ashama Road.

The victim was rescued alive and unharmed.

Following her rescue, security operatives launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects. In the early hours of Wednesday, the surveillance system reportedly traced the gang to its hideout in the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest.

“A gun battle ensued, during which our combined team overpowered the criminals. One of the most wanted suspects, Abubakar Usman, was successfully captured, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with their firearms,” Gwamnishu said.

He added that preliminary investigations indicate that Usman and his gang have allegedly carried out several kidnapping operations in Igbodo, Umunede and neighbouring communities, where they extorted millions of naira in ransom from victims’ families.

Security operatives have continued efforts to track down the fleeing members of the gang.

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