Delta Police Arrest Motorcyclist Who Abducted Toddler for 500,000 Naira Ransom, Recover Cash and Pistol

Delta State Police Command said its operatives arrested Kelvin Ogaga after the girl’s father reported the abduction on May 18, 2026. The family entrusted the suspect with the child’s daily school runs before he took her and demanded 500,000 naira from the family. After negotiations, the family paid the ransom to secure the girl’s release. Acting on credible technical intelligence, police stormed Ogaga’s hideout in Ughelli and took him into custody. The command highlighted additional successes, including the arrest of a suspected cultist in Ozoro who possessed a locally made single‑barrelled gun and the interception of a child‑theft attempt in Ogun State.

Police recovered 127,000 naira, which they believe is part of the ransom payment, along with other valuables bought with crime proceeds and the motorcycle used in the abduction. In a separate stop‑and‑search patrol along the Power Line axis by Bonsaac, officers saw a man carrying a black bag flee; the abandoned bag yielded a Beretta pistol and an iPhone. The suspect remains in custody while investigators trace the remaining ransom funds and seek the second suspect linked to the weapon.

The case illustrates how criminal groups exploit trusted roles such as school‑run drivers to target children for ransom. It also shows that intelligence‑led operations and routine stop‑and‑search checks can disrupt crime networks and seize illegal firearms. Community awareness and swift reporting remain vital to prevent similar incidents. Officials stressed that stop‑and‑search remains a key tool for detecting illegal weapons and deterring crime. Police say they will continue to follow the money trail and pursue any accomplices.