Residents of Oteri-Ughelli and Izigwe communities in Delta State are living in fear following the alleged abduction of a young man by suspected Fulani herdsmen during a late-night attack on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
According to community sources, the incident occurred on Isodje Street in Oteri-Ughelli, where armed men reportedly ambushed the victim as he returned home on his motorcycle. Witnesses said the attackers emerged suddenly from an uncompleted building and opened fire into the air before forcing the man into a nearby bush.
A resident who claimed to have witnessed the attack said the gunmen acted swiftly, leaving neighbours terrified and unable to intervene.
“They jumped from an uncompleted building as soon as the boy came back with his lady’s bike and started shooting sporadically. They forced the boy to follow them into the surrounding bush and all of us were so scared,” the witness said.
Sources revealed that tension had already been building in the area after about 10 suspected herdsmen were reportedly sighted in Izigwe, a growing community in Ovwor-Olomu that stretches from the riverbank toward the Pipeline axis of Oteri-Ughelli, on Thursday evening. Their presence reportedly unsettled many residents.
Following Saturday’s abduction, several residents of Isodje Street, Pipeline and Izigwe areas have reportedly fled their homes or limited their movements, fearing further attacks. Community members say the area has witnessed a series of kidnapping incidents in recent years.
Residents recalled that at least six people were abducted in the Pipeline area in 2025, with three victims reportedly killed. They also noted that three separate kidnapping cases were recorded in early 2026 around Izigwe, Uloho Avenue and the Pipeline axis, raising concerns among residents and discouraging property development in the affected communities.
According to local sources, kidnappers often take advantage of the area’s developing landscape, thick vegetation and isolated surroundings to carry out attacks and evade arrest. Some residents believe the suspects may be operating from hideouts located across the Oteri-Ughelli River.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, residents have appealed to security agencies, including Operation Delta Sweep and the police, to intensify patrols, flush out criminal elements and restore confidence in the affected communities.
