SAPELE, Delta State — The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver, identified as Onome Lucky Ughagha, over the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old female student in Sapele, after reportedly demanding and collecting ₦503,000 from the victim’s father as ransom.
The arrest was announced in a press statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, who said the suspect was apprehended on October 23 following an investigation into the reported abduction.
According to the police, the case was reported to the Sapele Area Command on October 20 by the girl’s father, who alleged that his daughter was abducted while preparing to leave for school.
The suspect allegedly contacted the father after the reported abduction, demanded ₦503,000 and threatened to kill the teenager if the money was not paid.
The father reportedly paid the demanded ransom. The girl was subsequently abandoned along Oton Road in Sapele, where she was reunited with her family in a traumatised condition, with indications of sexual assault, according to the police statement.
Following receipt of the complaint, operatives of the Sapele Area Command immediately commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The victim was taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment, while police intensified efforts to locate the suspect, who had reportedly abandoned the school bus and fled.
As part of the investigation, the school’s principal and vice principal were invited for questioning. The police did not state whether either school official was suspected of wrongdoing, and their invitation should not be interpreted as evidence of complicity in the alleged crime.
Investigators subsequently acted on what the command described as credible intelligence and traced Ughagha to a hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele, where he was arrested on Friday, October 23.
The police said the suspect confessed to involvement in the alleged crime during preliminary interrogation. The alleged confession has not been independently established, and the case remains subject to further investigation and due process.
The command disclosed that arrangements were underway to transfer the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, condemned the incident and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children from violence, abuse and exploitation.
Erale assured the public that investigators would conduct a thorough investigation and that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
The police commissioner also called on school authorities, parents and transport operators to exercise greater vigilance in protecting children, stressing that the safety of every child entrusted to their care must remain a priority.
The case has raised serious concerns about the safety of children using school transportation and the responsibility of adults entrusted with their movement and welfare.
School bus drivers and other transport personnel often occupy positions of trust because they are responsible for transporting children between their homes and educational institutions. The alleged incident highlights the importance of effective recruitment procedures, background checks, supervision and clear reporting channels for suspected abuse or misconduct.
Parents and guardians also need accessible procedures for reporting concerns about a child’s safety, while schools must ensure that allegations involving students are promptly reported to the appropriate authorities and handled with care.
The police have not disclosed further details about the school, the student’s identity or the specific circumstances of the alleged sexual assault. Protecting the identity of the minor is essential, and information that could expose her to identification or further harm should not be published.
The suspect’s arrest represents a development in the police investigation, but the outstanding questions surrounding the alleged abduction, ransom payment and sexual assault will need to be addressed through further inquiries.
The police have urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement efforts and reiterated their determination to protect lives and property across Delta State.
Ughagha remains an accused suspect at this stage. His arrest and the allegations against him do not constitute a conviction, and he is entitled to due process under the law.
The investigation is expected to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine whether other individuals were involved.
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