Kidnappers Abduct Police Officer, Four Others in Edo; N100m Ransom Demanded for Two Victims

Residents of Akoko Edo Local Government Area in Edo State are facing a surge in kidnapping incidents after five people, including a police officer, were abducted in two separate attacks.

The first incident occurred on February 8 at Makeke Primary Health Centre. Gunmen reportedly abducted Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, and Samuel Ilesanmi, who had taken his son to the health centre with his wife.

In a separate attack in Auchi, suspected kidnappers invaded the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa, who is from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo. The attackers abducted him, his wife, and their daughter. His wife was later released and instructed to arrange ransom for the release of her husband and daughter.

The growing frequency of abductions has led local authorities and traditional rulers to impose a daily curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in an effort to improve security.

Bode Ekundayo, National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, confirmed that the kidnappers contacted the families of Oriloye and Ilesanmi on February 9, demanding N100 million for their release.

According to him, local hunters and vigilante groups conducted overnight searches in surrounding forests after the abductions but did not locate the victims.

Ekundayo noted that the demand for N100 million as an initial ransom has become increasingly common in recent kidnapping cases in the area. He called on the Edo State Government and the Akoko Edo council to take urgent action to address the security situation.

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the incidents.