A member of the vigilante group in Okpanam community, Oshimili North Local Council, Mr Samurai Okoro, has been killed by suspected kidnappers. The incident occurred on Sunday, June 8, 2025, after the kidnappers abducted several victims in the community and took them into a nearby bush.

Sources indicate that Okoro was covertly tracking the abductors in an attempt to rescue the victims when he was shot from behind. It’s understood that the kidnappers had spotted him from a distance, laid an ambush, and then opened fire.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the death. He urged other vigilante members to always inform the police rather than attempting solo rescue missions.

The man was killed by kidnappers. He saw the kidnappers in the bush and was trailing them before they shot him,” SP Edafe stated. “We are investigating the case. We are advising others to always inform the police and not to run after kidnappers or armed robbers alone.”