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STATE | APRIL 12, 2026

Gunmen in the early hours of Saturday abducted the Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Hon. Bright Abeke, from a hotel in the oil-rich Delta State community, triggering a massive police manhunt and raising fresh concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the Niger Delta.

According to eyewitness accounts and a statement from the Delta State Police Command, the heavily armed assailants stormed the hotel premises located along the ever-busy Sapele-Warri Road at approximately 2:00 a.m. The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically into the air to disperse security personnel and hotel staff before gaining access to the Chairman's room and whisking him away through a waterfront exit.

The incident has thrown the Sapele community into a state of panic, with local businesses and government operations grinding to a halt as sympathizers gather at the council secretariat. While no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, the act fits a recurring pattern of targeted kidnappings of high-profile politicians and traditional rulers in the state.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that the hoodlums arrived via the creeks. We have deployed tactical teams, including the anti-kidnapping squad and marine police, to track the suspects and ensure the Chairman regains his freedom unharmed," said DSP Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State. He appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could lead to the rescue of the abducted chairman.

Delta State has witnessed a resurgence of kidnapping for ransom and militant activities in recent months, particularly in the riverine corridors of Sapele, Warri, and Ughelli. Security analysts have repeatedly linked the upsurge to economic hardship and the proliferation of small arms in the creeks. Just last month, a prominent traditional ruler in the neighboring Ndokwa East LGA was freed after reportedly paying a hefty ransom.

As the manhunt intensifies, residents and stakeholders are calling on the state government to strengthen the security architecture around local government administrators who are often seen as soft targets. The family of Hon. Bright Abeke has declined to comment on the situation pending further developments.