The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver over the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old female student in Sapele, following a reported ₦503,000 ransom payment by the victim’s father.
The suspect, identified as Onome Lucky Ughagha, was arrested on October 23, 2026, at his hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele after police operatives launched an investigation into the incident.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, October 25, 2026, stating that the incident was reported to the Sapele Area Command on October 20 by the victim’s father.
According to the statement, the father alleged that the suspect abducted his daughter while she was preparing to leave for school, subsequently demanding ₦503,000 and threatening to kill the teenager if the ransom was not paid.
The police said that after the reported payment, the girl was abandoned along Oton Road in Sapele, where she was reunited with her family in a traumatised condition, with indications that she had been sexually assaulted.
Following the report, operatives of the Sapele Area Command commenced investigations, while the victim was taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment.
The statement added that the school’s principal and vice principal were invited for questioning as part of the investigation, while police intensified efforts to locate the suspect, who had reportedly abandoned the school bus and fled.
Edafe said the suspect was eventually traced to his hideout in Ajimele on October 23 following what the Command described as credible intelligence. He reportedly confessed to his alleged involvement during preliminary interrogation.
The police spokesperson stated that arrangements were underway to transfer the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, condemned the alleged crime and reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting children from all forms of violence and exploitation.
According to the press release, Erale assured that investigations would be thorough and that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
The Commissioner also called on school authorities, parents and transport operators to exercise greater vigilance in safeguarding children, stressing that the safety of every child entrusted to their care must remain paramount.
The incident raises renewed concerns about the safety of schoolchildren and the responsibility of adults entrusted with their transportation and welfare. It also highlights the importance of prompt reporting, effective school transport safeguards and thorough investigations into alleged crimes against minors.
The police have not announced the conclusion of the investigation. The suspect’s alleged involvement remains subject to due legal process.
