Harrison Gwamnishu, a Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has shared a chilling account of a recent abduction incident along the Issele-Uku expressway.
In a social media post, Gwamnishu revealed that kidnappers demanded not only ₦15 million in cash but also food items including jollof rice, chicken, and energy drinks as part of the ransom for the release of a driver and a medical doctor.
The abduction reportedly occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Monday evening. According to Gwamnishu, the victims included an airport shuttle driver identified as Chibueze and a passenger he was transporting from Issele-Uku to Asaba. The attackers, suspected to be armed Fulani kidnappers, intercepted their vehicle and whisked them away into the bush.
Providing further details via Facebook, Gwamnishu stated:
“Yesterday evening, they carried out another attack, this time at the Issele-Uku Express. One of the victims is an Airport driver, Chibueze, and a passenger he was transporting. The kidnapping occurred between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. A man who escaped confirmed that the abductors are believed to be Fulani armed kidnappers.”
In a shocking twist, the kidnappers also demanded cooked meals as part of the ransom package.
“Just witnessed another ₦15 million, cooked jollof rice, chicken, energy drinks, etc., delivered to armed Fulani kidnappers at Ubulu-Okiti Express, Delta State as ransom,” Gwamnishu wrote.
He added that the ransom handover took place near Ubulu-Okiti, suggesting the kidnappers did not travel far from the scene of the crime.
“They kidnapped the victims from Issele-Uku yesterday evening and collected ransom at Ubulu-Okiti this evening. Meaning they didn’t go far.”
The governor’s aide expressed deep concern over the poor state of local security and the lack of adequate support for community vigilante groups.
“Our locals I saw here complained bitterly that they are not funded and they don’t have the necessary materials. I was informed that if they were well-equipped, they would have gone into the bush to pursue the kidnappers. Do I believe them? Yes, 100 percent.”
In light of the growing insecurity, Gwamnishu issued a public advisory to residents in neighboring communities, including Ogwashi-Uku, Azagba-Ogwashi, Issele-Azagba, Edo-Ogwashi, Aniagbala, Ubulu-Uku, Issele-Uku, Utulu, Ibusa, Ubulu-Unor, Anifekide, Akuku-Agbor, and Onicha-Ugbo. He urged them to remain alert and vigilant as kidnappers continue to terrorize the region.
The incident highlights the worsening insecurity in parts of Delta State and the urgent need for government intervention to strengthen local security architecture.
