Police in Delta State have arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver, Onome Ughagha, over the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old female student in Sapele.
The suspect was reportedly arrested after allegedly demanding and collecting ₦503,000 in ransom from the victim’s father.
The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, according to a report by PUNCH.
Edafe said the victim’s father reported the incident to the Sapele Area Command on Tuesday, alleging that the suspect abducted his daughter while she was preparing to leave for school.
According to the police, the suspect subsequently contacted the father, demanded ₦503,000 and threatened to kill the teenager if the ransom was not paid.
After the payment, the victim was reportedly abandoned along Oton Road in Sapele, where she was reunited with her family in a traumatised condition, with indications of sexual assault.
The police said the victim was taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment, while operatives of the Sapele Area Command launched an investigation into the incident.
As part of the investigation, the school principal and vice-principal were invited for questioning. The suspect reportedly abandoned the school bus and fled, prompting police to intensify efforts to track him down.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives subsequently traced Ughagha to his hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele, where he was arrested on Friday.
The police said the suspect reportedly confessed to his involvement in the crime during preliminary interrogation.
The command added that arrangements were underway to transfer him to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, condemned the incident and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children from violence and exploitation.
Eralе assured the public that investigations would be thorough and anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
The police commissioner also urged school authorities, parents and transport operators to strengthen vigilance and prioritise the safety of children entrusted to their care.
