The Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State, Hon. Bright Abeke, has regained his freedom after spending eleven days in the hands of kidnappers who abducted him in a brazen hotel raid earlier this month.
Abeke was taken on April 10, 2026, when armed men invaded his hotel, Debrofred, on Owumi Road in Sapele, Delta State, around 7:25 p.m. The attackers reportedly exchanged gunfire with security personnel before taking him away.
The Punch further reported that eyewitnesses said about 15 gunmen arrived at the scene in a Range Rover SUV and two other vehicles, shooting sporadically to disperse residents and guests before going straight for their target. A member of a local vigilante group identified as Ufuoma was shot during the attack and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Abeke regained his freedom on Monday 20th Apilt. bringing relief to his family, political allies, and residents of Sapele who had been on edge since his abduction.
According to The Sun Nigeria, the freed council chairman was seen in a viral photo alongside the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Olorogun Jaro Egbo.
The Gabriel Sunano Foundation, while celebrating Abeke’s safe return, called on security agencies to intensify efforts to tackle kidnapping and broader insecurity, emphasising the need to prevent similar incidents in Delta State and across the country.
It is not immediately clear whether a ransom was paid or whether any of his abductors have been arrested. The Delta State Police Command had earlier deployed its special anti-kidnapping unit and cordoned off major entry and exit points in Sapele in a bid to secure his release.
