The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student in Sapele, after allegedly collecting ₦503,000 from her father as ransom.
The suspect, identified as Onome Lucky Ughagha, was arrested following a police investigation into the incident, which was reported by the victim’s father on October 20, 2026.
According to the police, the father alleged that the driver abducted his daughter while she was preparing to leave for school before contacting him with a ransom demand and threatening to kill the teenager if the money was not paid.
Victim Abandoned After Ransom Payment
Police said the girl was reportedly abandoned along Oton Road in Sapele after the ransom was paid. She was subsequently reunited with her family in a traumatised condition, with indications that she had been sexually assaulted.
Following the report, officers from the Sapele Area Command launched an investigation and arranged for the victim to receive medical examination and treatment.
The school’s principal and vice-principal were also invited for questioning as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Suspect Traced to Hideout
The police said Ughagha allegedly abandoned the school bus and fled after the incident, prompting officers to intensify efforts to locate him.
Acting on intelligence, operatives traced him to a hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele, where he was arrested on October 23.
According to the police, the suspect reportedly confessed to his involvement during preliminary interrogation. Authorities said arrangements were being made to transfer him to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.
Police Warn Schools and Parents to Protect Children
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, condemned the reported incident and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children from violence and exploitation.
He assured the public that investigations would be thorough and that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
The police commissioner also urged school authorities, parents and transport operators to strengthen safety measures for children, particularly those who rely on school transportation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the suspect have yet to be determined by a court.
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