A man identified as Abubakar Usman, who was arrested during a security operation in Delta State over alleged involvement in kidnapping activities, has claimed that he and other members of his group worked for an Abuja-based cattle owner.
The suspect was apprehended on Wednesday by operatives of the Delta State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad in collaboration with the SafeCity Security Service during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout in the Ogwashi-Uku/Adonta Forest.
According to reports, security operatives engaged suspected kidnappers in a gun battle before Usman was arrested.
The operation was launched following the abduction 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.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who disclosed details of the arrest in a post on X, alleged that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦100 million from the victim’s family.
A video that has since gone viral on social media captured Gwamnishu questioning the suspect shortly after his arrest.
During the interrogation, Usman claimed he travelled from Niger State to Delta State, where he teamed up with two other alleged gang members.
According to the suspect, the three-man gang operated with a pump-action gun and received about ₦5 million as ransom from one of their kidnapping victims.
“We are three in number. I’m from Niger State. We were using a pump-action gun,” he said.
Usman further alleged that the group worked for an unnamed Alhaji based in Abuja, although he claimed he did not know the man’s exact location.
“The Alhaji we are working for is in Abuja, but I don’t know exactly where he lives,” the suspect stated.
He also alleged that members of the gang were involved in rearing cattle belonging to the unnamed individual.
Authorities have not independently verified the suspect’s claims, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
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