A suspected bandit arrested during a police operation in a forest in Delta State has claimed that he and members of his gang worked for an unidentified “Alhaji” based in Abuja, alleging that they combined cattle rearing with kidnapping activities.
The suspect, identified as Abubakar Usman, made the claim after he was arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad in collaboration with the SafeCity Security Service during a raid on the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest.
Usman was apprehended on Wednesday after a gun battle between security operatives and suspected kidnappers at their hideout.
His arrest followed the abduction of Mrs Blessing Chiedu, an indigene of Umunede Kingdom, who was kidnapped on July 2 along the Ani-Ifekide Farm Road in Ubulu-Uku.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who confirmed the incident in a post on X, disclosed that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of ₦100 million from the victim’s family.
In a video circulating on social media after his arrest, Usman was seen answering questions about the gang’s activities and operations.
According to him, he travelled from Niger State to Delta, where he teamed up with two other suspected kidnappers.
“We are three in number. I’m from Niger State. We were using a pump-action gun,” he said.
The suspect further alleged that the gang received about ₦5 million as ransom from one of their victims.
Claiming to be working under an unnamed sponsor, Usman said, “The Alhaji we are working for is in Abuja, but I don’t know exactly where he lives.”
The police have yet to officially confirm the suspect’s claims regarding the alleged Abuja-based sponsor. Investigations are expected to continue as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks operating across Delta State and other parts of the country.