Stray Bullet Kills Woman as Gunmen Abduct Polytechnic Student in Delta

A female student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, has been abducted by gunmen, while a stray bullet killed a woman and injured a man during the attack in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The kidnapped student, identified as Doris Jonathan Oke, a Higher National Diploma (HND) Mass Communication student, was taken after the attackers failed to capture a male target who was with her. The incident occurred on Wednesday night, February 5, 2025, along the polytechnic road.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, numbering about five, blocked a vehicle on the road and began shooting indiscriminately. Their intended target, a man driving the car, managed to escape into the bush, but Oke, who was in the front passenger seat, was seized and taken away.

“It was like a war zone in Ogwashi-Uku last night. People were running for safety,” a community source recounted. “The gunmen shot multiple times at the vehicle before carrying the girl away. As of this afternoon, they have demanded a N10 million ransom.”

During the attack, a stray bullet struck a woman who owned a shop under the power line, killing her instantly. Another man was shot in the leg and sustained injuries.

The Chairman of the Ogwashi-Uku vigilante group, Mr. Henry Chukwuka, confirmed the abduction and the fatal shooting. He also stated that the Lexus 330 vehicle involved in the incident had been moved to the Ogwashi-Uku police station.

Bright Edafe, spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, acknowledged the incident but said he could not confirm the student’s abduction. “There was an attempted kidnapping, and the man involved fled, abandoning his car. We have recovered the vehicle at the station, but we have been unable to reach him as his phone is switched off. Once we locate him, we will get more details on what happened.”