Edo: Gunmen Seize Police Inspector, Four Victims

In two separate incidents on February 8, suspected kidnappers reportedly kidnapped five people, including a Nigeria Police Force officer, in Akoko Edo, Edo North Senatorial District, Edo State.

The occurrences, which took place at several locations, have caused residents to become more anxious as a result of claims that the kidnappers demanded ₦100 million in ransom for two of the victims.

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

According to him, Samuel Ilesanmi and his wife had taken their ailing son to the medical facility when gunmen kidnapped Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student.

“Daring kidnappers struck again in Akoko Edo, this time at Makeke village, less than a kilometer away from Ososo in the eastern part of Akoko Edo,” he added. On February 8, Samuel Ilesanmi and Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, were taken from the community health center.

Ekundayo went on to say that the kidnappers later got in touch with the victims’ relatives and demanded ₦100 million to free them.

The organization further revealed that in a different operation in Auchi, murderers broke into the home of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo and took him, his wife, and their daughter hostage.

In order to facilitate her source cash for her husband and daughter’s rescue, the gunmen allegedly freed the officer’s wife.

Police Inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo, his wife, and their daughter were abducted in Auchi in a similar operation, according to Ekundayo. His wife was then freed to go seek ransom to rescue her husband and daughter.

Local hunters and vigilantes, according to Ekundayo, jumped into action right away after the tragedy and searched the neighboring neighborhoods and woodlands for the victims.

Their efforts, however, were unsuccessful.

On February 9, however, the kidnappers contacted in the evening to demand ₦100 million in order to free Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi.

He went on to say, “This practice of requiring ₦100 million to start a ransom negotiation is getting accustomed to its annoying pattern in past kidnap ransom negotiations.”

As the security situation in the area deteriorates, the organization urged the Edo State Government and the Akoko Edo Local Government to take immediate action.

It issued a warning that if nothing is done, the situation would get worse.

“We have previously written to all security agencies and the levels of government in Edo State, issued warnings, and provided timely information. Is it not evident that the deteriorating problem would eventually lead to unmanageable disasters? Akoko Edo is encircled.

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

The kidnapping in Makeke was confirmed by the Edo State Police Command, who also stated that suspects had been taken into custody in relation to the incident.

Eno Ikoedem, the police public relations officer, stated that the victims were being rescued and that investigations were still underway.

“I can attest to the fact that there was a kidnapping instance at Makeke Village in Edo North’s Akoko Edo Local Government. “Efforts are underway to rescue the victims, and some suspects are in police custody,” she said.

This comes weeks after the January 9 kidnapping of seven Imoga natives who were staying at the Stay Boy Hotel on the Imoga-Ibillo road.

The hotel’s owner was kidnapped along with the visitors.

The ransom demand of ₦100 million, made by the kidnappers on January 11, was subsequently reduced to ₦70 million and then ₦40 million.

After an undisclosed sum was received, the abductors reportedly threatened to begin killing the victims if the ransom was not paid by January 16. Nevertheless, the victims were subsequently freed.

The frequent kidnappings and growing ransom demands, according to locals, have made Akoko Edo and the surrounding communities more fearful.