By Our Correspondent
National News – Tension has gripped Sapele metropolis in Delta State following the abduction of the Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Bright Abeke, who was kidnapped at a hotel along Owumi Road on Friday evening by armed men suspected to be kidnappers.
The attackers, numbering about 15, stormed the facility in SUVs, firing sporadically and causing panic among residents and guests.
Eyewitnesses said the operation was swift and targeted, as the assailants whisked the council boss away to an unknown destination, leaving the community in fear and confusion.
Security sources said operatives have cordoned off major entry and exit routes in Sapele as a joint search-and-rescue operation intensifies across Delta State following the abduction of the council chairman.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that tactical units have been deployed to track the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the victim.
Community leaders and political associates, mostly members of the All Progressives Congress, have continued to converge on the area, expressing concern and demanding urgent action from security agencies.
Eyewitness accounts also revealed that a member of a local vigilante group was shot during the attack and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
As of press time, the whereabouts of the abducted chairman remain unknown, while residents continue to express fear over rising insecurity in the region.
Security analysts say the incident highlights ongoing challenges of kidnapping and armed attacks in parts of Delta State, urging stronger intelligence gathering and rapid response measures to curb future occurrences.
Local residents have appealed for increased patrols, improved surveillance, and community policing strategies to restore confidence and ensure safety across Sapele and its surrounding communities.
Weapons-wielding gangs have recently been linked to a series of violent incidents in the region, prompting calls for coordinated security intervention at both state and federal levels.
Authorities say ongoing investigations are focused on tracking the kidnappers, identifying their routes, and strengthening collaboration among security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted council chairman without delay efforts.
