Five persons, including a police officer, were reportedly abducted in two separate operations by kidnappers in Akoko Edo, in Edo North, Edo State.
In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the National Coordinator, Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, Bode Ekundayo, noted that the first two kidnappings took place at the Makeke community health centre, where the gunmen kidnapped Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student and Samuel Ilesanmi, who had rushed his son to the health centre with his wife.
Ekundayo also said a gang of kidnappers invaded the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo and abducted him, his wife and daughter, later releasing his wife to go arrange for ransom to free her husband and daughter.
He stated that the kidnappers who abducted Oriloye and Ilesanmi had already contacted the family asking for a N100 million ransom for both of them.
He said, “Daring kidnappers struck again in Akoko Edo, this time at Makeke village, less than a kilometre away from Ososo in the eastern part of Akoko Edo, taking away a secondary school female student, Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi on February 8 at the community health centre.
“In a similar operation in Auchi, kidnappers invaded the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo and kidnapped him, his wife and daughter, later releasing his wife to go look for ransom to free her husband and daughter.”
Ekundayo noted that as soon as the news of the kidnapping hit the community, Makeke hunters and vigilantes mobilised and entered the wilderness, combing far and near till the early hours of the following day, all their efforts to no avail.
He added, “However, the kidnappers called in the evening on February 9 to ask for N100 million for Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi to be released.
“This trend of demanding N100 million to commence ransom negotiation is becoming a familiar thing, having manifested its irritating trend in previous kidnap ransom negotiations.”
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The Edo State Police Command PPRO, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the kidnapping incident in Makeke, noting that suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Ikoedem noted that an investigation is underway to arrest other suspects, adding that efforts were made to rescue the victims.
She said, “I can confirm to you that a kidnapping case occurred at Makeke Village in Akoko Ado Local Government in Edo North. Some suspects are in police custody and efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing.
