ADADUpdating your news feed...
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver, Onome Lucky Ughagha, for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student in Sapele after reportedly demanding and collecting ₦503,000 in ransom from her father.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Sunday, the incident was reported at the Sapele Area Command on October 20, 2026, by the victim’s father, who alleged that the suspect abducted his daughter while she was preparing to leave for school.
The suspect subsequently contacted him, demanded ₦503,000 and threatened to kill the minor if the ransom was not paid.
Edafe stated that after the ransom was paid, the victim was reportedly abandoned along Oton Road, Sapele, where she was reunited with her family in a traumatised condition, with indications that she had been sexually assaulted.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the Sapele Area Command immediately commenced investigations, while the victim was taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment.
“The school principal and vice principal were invited for questioning, while efforts were intensified to apprehend the suspect, who had abandoned the school bus and fled,” he explained.
However, acting on credible intelligence, operatives subsequently traced the suspect to his hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele, where he was arrested on October 23, 2026.
During preliminary interrogation, he reportedly confessed to his involvement in the crime, while arrangements were being made to transfer him to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.
The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel E. Erale, condemned the incident, reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting children from all forms of violence and exploitation.
He assured the public that investigations would be thorough and that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
The CP also urged 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. (Nigerian Tribune)
