Gunmen Abduct Police Inspector, Four Others in Edo

On February 8, suspected kidnappers reportedly carried out two separate attacks in Akoko Edo, Edo North Senatorial District, Edo State, abducting five people, including a Nigeria Police Force officer.

Residents’ fear has increased as a result of the occurrences, which took place at several locations, and allegations that the kidnappers sought ₦100 million in ransom for two of the victims.

The Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People’s National Coordinator, Bode Ekundayo, told reporters in a statement released on Wednesday that the Makeke Community Health Center was the scene of the initial attack.

He claims that Samuel Ilesanmi, who had accompanied his wife to the medical facility to pick up his ailing son, and Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, were kidnapped by gunmen.

In the eastern side of Akoko Edo, at Makeke village, less than a kilometer from Ososo, he claimed, “Daring kidnappers struck again in Akoko Edo, taking away a secondary school female student, Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi at the community health center on February 8.”

According to Ekundayo, the kidnappers later got in touch with the victims’ relatives and demanded ₦100 million in exchange for their release.

The organization also revealed that in a different operation in Auchi, police inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo was kidnapped together with his wife and daughter after they broke into his home.

According to reports, the gunmen liberated the officer’s wife so that she could demand a ransom for her husband and daughter’s liberation.

“Police Inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo was kidnapped along with his wife and daughter in a similar operation in Auchi. His wife was then freed to go look for ransom to free her husband and daughter,” Ekundayo stated.

According to Ekundayo, local vigilantes and hunters jumped into action right away after the occurrence, searching the surrounding neighborhoods and neighboring woodlands for the victims.

But their attempts were unsuccessful.

But on the evening of February 9, the kidnappers called to demand ₦100 million in order to free Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi.

Having shown its annoying tendency in past kidnap ransom discussions, he continued, “this trend of demanding ₦100 million to begin ransom negotiation is becoming a familiar thing.”

The group urged the Akoko Edo Local Government and the Edo State Government to take immediate action to address the region’s deteriorating security situation.

It issued a warning that a more serious crisis might result from ongoing inaction.

“Earlier, we sent timely information, issued warnings, and wrote to all Edo State security agencies and governmental levels. Or is it not already clear that the growing problem will eventually turn into unstoppable disasters? All around Akoko Edo.

Ekundayo said, “Is it not evident that gunmen from Benue and Kwara States are rapidly approaching Edo State, with the vast wilderness of Akoko Edo serving as their open gateway?”

The kidnapping at Makeke was confirmed by the Edo State Police Command, who also reported that suspects had been taken into custody.

Investigations are still on, and efforts to rescue the victims are being stepped up, according to Police Public Relations Officer Eno Ikoedem.

“I can attest to the fact that Makeke Village in Akoko Edo Local Government in Edo North was the scene of an abduction case. The victims are still being rescued, and some suspects are being held by the police,” she stated.

Weeks have passed since seven Imoga natives were abducted on January 9 while staying at the Stay Boy Hotel on the Imoga-Ibillo route.

Together with the visitors, the hotel owner was also kidnapped.

The kidnappers’ January 11 ransom demand of ₦100 million was subsequently reduced to ₦70 million and then ₦40 million.

The abductors allegedly threatened to begin murdering the victims by January 16 if the ransom was not paid, but they were ultimately freed once an undisclosed sum was paid.

Locals claim that terror has increased in Akoko Edo and the surrounding areas as a result of the frequent kidnappings and growing ransom demands.