The Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State, Bright Abeke, has been released by his abductors, ending a harrowing ordeal that drew widespread concern across the state’s political and security circles.

Abeke was seized by gunmen who stormed his hotel, Debrofred, along Owumi Road in Sapele. The attackers, said to have arrived in a Range Rover, reportedly opened fire indiscriminately to scare away residents and guests before whisking the council boss away. The brazen operation threw the usually busy timber town into panic as people fled for safety amid the gunfire.

During the attack, a local vigilante guard identified as Ufuoma and another yet-to-be-named individual sustained gunshot injuries. Both victims were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where they have been receiving treatment. Community sources described Ufuoma as one of the first responders who attempted to confront the gunmen before being overpowered.

Abeke’s abduction triggered a flurry of security activity, with local vigilante groups, community leaders and security agencies mounting pressure on the kidnappers and combing suspected hideouts around Sapele and adjoining riverine communities. Residents said patrols were intensified on major roads and waterways as fears of rising insecurity resurfaced.

Details surrounding his eventual release remain closely guarded. It is not yet clear whether a ransom was paid or if his freedom followed a coordinated security operation or negotiations facilitated by intermediaries. Officials and family sources have so far declined to disclose the terms of his release, citing ongoing security concerns and the need not to jeopardise further investigations.

However, sources within Sapele confirmed that Abeke has reunited with his family and is receiving medical checks to ascertain his condition after days in captivity. Community members have expressed relief at his safe return but are calling on authorities to intensify efforts to track down the gang responsible and address what they describe as a disturbing pattern of high-profile kidnappings in the region.

Security analysts say the incident underscores the vulnerability of local government officials and the need for improved protection measures, including better intelligence gathering, stronger collaboration with community vigilantes and a more visible security presence in known flashpoints across Delta State.