Suspected herdsmen kidnappers have forced impoverished inhabitants of the Ubulu-Uku community in Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State, to raise an N10 million ransom to free two locals who were kidnapped and kept hostage for fourteen days.
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NDV found out that the kidnappers who had been terrorizing the residents of Ubulu-Uku and nearby areas originally asked for N5 million when they contacted the family members of the captives. The abductions took place on April 18.
A group of four kidnappers, who have become adept at navigating the bush paths and forests within numerous communities in Delta State, embarked on an arduous journey spanning multiple kilometers over nearly 24 hours. They marched their exhausted captives from the Ubulu-Uku community through Obior, Akumazi, Umunede, Otolokpo, Ekuku-Agbor, and Abavo before finally reaching their hideout in Edo State.
N10 million ransom plus jollof rice or face death
The family members implored the criminals to have compassion for the hostages, considering their disadvantaged background.
However, they reversed their stance, criticizing them for lack of seriousness in failing to promptly pay the N5 million ransom.
The kidnappers increased the ransom to N10 million, instructing them to utilize the funds for burials as they were not prepared to proceed with compliance.
In their anger, they dispatched a detailed inventory of provisions to their kinfolk, requesting supplies be sent over. This list encompassed fifty units of Black Bullet beverages, ten cans of Peak Milk, twenty grams of ice, ten servings of malt, fifty portions of loud snacks, six thousand wrappers, one pack of white razler, and an additional package of table water.
The others include: three large schoolbags, two crossbody bags, TM at 200 mg with 20 packets from Hollandia (four units), ten servings of Jollof rice along with turkey meat, Nutri-C (three portions), Peak milk in sachets (two pieces), six packs of Eva soap, and two pairs of rubber sandals (sizes 43 and 41 respectively).
Community leaders, having been informed about the alarming threats and developments, called for an urgent gathering. During this assembly, the attendees agreed that their best course of action would be to pool together both effort and funds in order to prevent the demise of the two relatives.
We felt helpless — Community leaders
A community leader told NDV: “It is not the first time, the second time, or the third time they had called our people on the phone and threatened to kill the victims if their demands were not met.
We were left in a dire situation as they had previously slain multiple locals from the area due to their inability to meet the demanded ransom.
Therefore, the entire community, encompassing both unemployed and employed individuals, as well as people from all age groups and even those residing outside the state, came together to gather funds. Contributions were made based on each person’s ability to pay, and ultimately, we managed to collect millions of naira.
By April 30, the community had gathered ₦10 million, and since time was limited, we assigned representatives to deliver the ransom money, food, and beverages to the kidnappers.
The community members tallied and boxed N10 million in cash inside a carton, with all additional items placed into a Ghana-must-go bag, then headed to the destination specified by the criminals on May 1 (Labor Day).
Another community leader said: “Some members of the community recommended that we mobilise security officials to confront the kidnappers, but the law operatives contacted asked us to pay the ransom if we wanted to see the victims alive.
” Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers abduct people from this village and other communities at gunpoint daily.
They’ve transformed kidnapping into a career and compel impoverished individuals who struggle to afford even one proper meal daily to pay the ransom.
What they are doing to us in this community is happening now; neither the government nor the police are assisting us.
“Nobody is safe any longer in Ubuluku-Uku community. We are mainly farmers and cannot go to our farms anymore because Fulani kidnappers, armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, have taken over our bushes and forests.
The most dreaded kidnappers’ den in Edo/ Delta
NDV discovered that the community delegates covered significant distances traveling through various locations such as Ubuluku-Uku, Obior, Owerre-Olubor, Ute-Okpu, Abavo, Umutu, and Orerokpe in Delta State before reaching the borders of Urhonigbe in Edo State. This journey led them to an infamous forest refuge utilized by Fulani herders/kidnappers active in both Delta and Edo States.
The kidnappers tracked their movements secretly and verified that there were no security personnel with them. Only then did they instruct the individuals about the precise location where they should leave the N10 million ransom along with other specified items.
To those who suggest that the villagers should have laced the Jollof rice and beverages with poison, let me caution against such an attempt. They possess protective amulets that can detect if their food has been tampered with, and furthermore, they would refuse to accept any provisions unless individuals from among those offering them take a taste first.
The individuals you intend to liberate would also partake in eating the food. Therefore, if you contaminate the provisions, they will gather the funds and other belongings before proceeding to execute the victims whom they planned to murder.
Even though they suffered from their wounds and endured harsh treatment, the two villagers were ecstatic that the community had come to save them. The emissaries transported them back to the Ubulu-Uku community later that very day.
A local resident stated, “The concern for the delegates was that those they queried regarding the whereabouts of the Urhonigbe community would counter-question their intentions and purpose for visiting, as well as express surprise over their lack of awareness concerning it being a notorious area for abductors.”
He added: “They told them the army and police know that the kidnappers are stationed in a forest in Urhonigbe community, but security officials dare not go there.”
Outrage in Ubulu-Uku
Upon arrival at the Ubuku-Uku community with the two kidnapped locals, the representatives incited fury among the young people when they saw the victims’ wounds. The enraged youth began shouting, causing widespread anxiety amongst the northerners living in the area.
According to sources, they may have summoned security personnel due to concerns, as approximately 30 minutes after the outbreak involving aggressive young individuals, law enforcement officers arrived in at least 15 police cars to restore order within the neighborhood.
Oborevwori’s strict instruction to local government chairmen
Several months back, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori instructed the leaders of Aniocha North and Aniocha South local government areas—Hon. Emmanuel Chinye and Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike—and other involved chairpersons, to organize a joint security conference encompassing various stakeholders from these regions’ communities, as well as representatives from law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watches, and religious figures. The aim was to pinpoint underlying issues and explore potential solutions.
A majority of the abductions over the past several months within the senatorial district occurred primarily in the two local government areas, with the Ubulu-Uku community being particularly vulnerable.
The meeting convened on April 11 in the Ogwashi-Uku community pinpointed the hideouts, entry/exits routes, and additional trails through the thickets and forests linking various areas within the locality, different sections of the state, as well as neighboring Edo State. These pathways are utilized by Fulani herders/kidnappers to transport captives into hiding spots.
In a joint statement, the two chairmen declared: “An integrated task force comprising various security organizations will be established without delay. This group is tasked with systematically searching through the extensive forests/bushes and boundaries between the two local government regions to expel all unwanted individuals residing within these zones.”
The issue, though, was that essential equipment wasn’t supplied afterward. Their conversation covered topics such as drones, tracking devices, support kits, and other crucial resources meant for the security personnel and watchmen. So far, nothing has been finalized.
The security personnel took no action regarding the kidnapped villagers.
A group of four kidnappers seized the two brothers from the Ubulu-Uku community on April 18, just six days following the establishment of a joint security task force aimed at rooting out all unwanted individuals hiding within the area. However, this team never searched the forests for either the captives or their abductors during that period.
Four days prior to the gathering in Ogwashi-Uku, on April 6, a group of abductors headed by an individual named Abubakar Usman, who goes by the nickname Shehu, targeted and seized a medical professional along with their driver near the Issele-Uku section of the Benin-Agbor federal road.
They captured the two inhabitants, hurriedly moved them into the woods, and reached out to the doctor’s relatives later that evening. The captors set free the physician along with his driver the following day, April 7th, once they had received an N15 million ransom payment. Afterward, they enjoyed some prepared jollof rice, beverages, and additional items.
We are not resting — Police Commissioner
Abaniwonda; Eddafe, PPRO In a joyful announcement, the spokesman for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed that law enforcement officers eliminated the head of the criminal group, Usman, along with three accomplices, on April 11. This occurred on the very date when the Ogwashi-Uku joint security conference took place.
Edafe stated: “The Police Commissioner of Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, instructed members of the CP-Special Assessment unit to conduct an intelligence-driven investigation with the aim of apprehending the kidnappers and bringing them to justice.”
According to him, the police tracked and arrested the notorious kingpin on April 10, 24 hours before the meeting, following credible intelligence reports.
“Acting on his confession, at about 1100 hours on 11 April 2025, the suspect led operatives to their hideout–a forest along the Asaba/Agbor expressway, between the Okpanam and Issele-Azagba communities. During the search of the area, the suspect raised an alarm and fled to join his waiting gang members.
The gang members confronted the team in an intense gun battle, resulting in four suspects, among them Usman Abubakar, suffering severe gunshot wounds. The authorities seized three AK-47 rifles along with ninety rounds of 7.62mm live ammo.
The wounded individuals were transported to General Hospital Ogwashi-Uuku, where they were pronounced deceased.
During his quarterly press conference where he presented the accused individuals, State Police Commissioner Olufemi Abaniwonda revealed that the group’s ringleader, Abubakar Usman—commonly referred to as “Shehu”—and several gang associates have been implicated in multiple abduction cases across Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Ubulu-Uku, and nearby regions.
The commissioner stated that the group members were also responsible for the kidnapping of the wife and daughter of one Mr Godwin Anuka after murdering him in the Ogwashi-Uku area.
He explained that Abubakar owned up to being responsible for the kidnapping of a realtor, Esther Ojoh, in Ibusa, whose corpse was later found on March 25.
The government and police looked the other way – Ojei, activist
A local activist named Victor Ojei, working alongside another advocate, Harrison Gwamnishu, both hailing from the Ubulu-Uku community, frequently sounded the alarm regarding the alarming rate of abductions occurring in their community as well as other towns within the Delta North senatorial district and various regions across the state. They criticized the state government for giving minimal consideration to these issues.
His statement was: “Our town, Ubulu-Ukku located in the AnioCHA South Local Government Area, is being attacked by abductors. As our community members plead for assistance, the Delta State government opts to ignore the situation.”
The silence grew overwhelmingly loud. This led to our resignations — Comrade Harrison Gwamnishu stepped down from his role as SSA for Civil Society and Youth Mobilization, and Comrade Victor Ojei left his position as SSA for Civil Society and NGOs.
We couldn’t remain comfortable while our people were suffering in fear. We prioritized our people over our positions. We opted for Delta State rather than settling for compromises.
Not long ago, two brothers who were abducted from the Udo Quarters, Ubulu-Uku, were freed after spending two excruciating weeks in captivity within the Urhonigbe community of Edo State, a location deeply nestled in the woods.
It requires 17 hours of hiking without food or water to get there. This is the daily reality faced by our community.
These lawbreakers blend into their surroundings, disguising themselves as herders and metal scavengers. A few reside free of charge in remote areas; others lease homes with absolutely no documentation or evidence.
… some community leaders are co-conspirators
“Even worse, some community leaders enable this horror by selling lands without vetting. This madness must stop. We must begin to hold community leaders accountable!
“Comrades Gwamnishu and Wong Box (Victor Ojei) have decided not to remain passive as our people continue to face persecution, abduction, and being silenced without trace,” he declared.
Locals assert that both the government and police remain in denial.
People who talked to NDV mentioned that both the government and the police refuse to acknowledge that residents have been tormented by kidnappers. The police, however, absurdly congratulated themselves for their minimal efforts to confront these criminals.
Mr. Innocent Ojogbu, a teacher said, “The attempts they make is insignificant to the avalanche of kidnappings by the Fulani herdsmen, who attack farmers, rape women in the farms, and abduct villagers for ransom.”
“From April 18, when they kidnapped the two brothers at the Ubulu-Uku community, to May 1, when the community paid ransom and secured their release, the security agents did not comb any forest for them.
“They set up a joint security team on April 11, a week before the abduction. Why did they not track the kidnappers and release our kinsmen?”
Mrs. Felicia Ozomah, a homemaker, posed this question: “Why haven’t they taken action to obliterate the hideouts established by the kidnappers within our woodlands? Had they employed drones to pinpoint these forest enclaves and followed up with airstrikes using fighter planes to assault them, maintaining persistent operations, numerous captors could be eliminated.”
“And those who remain will flee from Delta State, yet the authorities and law enforcement pretend not to know that we are being besieged by abductors,” she said additionally.
A vigilante named Ifeanyi Enumah stated, “The police fail to adopt strict actions against the kidnappers; instead, they tend to ignore them until public outcry becomes overwhelming. As a result, the criminals continue their operations without fear.”
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