School Bus Driver Allegedly Kidnaps, Rapes 14-Year-Old Student, Collects Ransom

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old school bus driver, Onome Lucky Ughagha, for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student in Sapele after collecting ₦503,000 in ransom from her father.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly abducted the student while she was preparing to leave for school, threatened to kill her if the ransom was not paid and later abandoned her along Oton Road in Sapele after receiving the money.

The incident was reported to the Sapele Area Command on October 20, 2026, by the victim’s father.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.
Edafe said the girl was reunited with her family after she was found abandoned along the road in a traumatised condition, with indications that she had been sexually assaulted.
Following the report, police operatives launched an investigation, while the victim was taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment.
The police also invited the school’s principal and vice principal for questioning as efforts to apprehend the suspect intensified. The suspect reportedly abandoned the school bus and fled after the incident.
However, following intelligence gathering, operatives of the Sapele Area Command traced Ughagha to his hideout in the Ajimele area of Sapele, where he was arrested on October 23.
“During preliminary interrogation, he reportedly confessed to his involvement in the crime,” the statement said.
The police disclosed that arrangements were being made to transfer the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba for further investigation.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, condemned the alleged crime and reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting children against violence and exploitation.
The commissioner assured the public that the investigation would be thorough and that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
He also urged school authorities, parents and transport operators to remain vigilant and prioritise the safety of children entrusted to their care..