Ransom demands spark fear as curfew enforced amid rising abductions in Edo State
Chaos erupted in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State as kidnappers abducted at least five people, including a police officer, DAILY POST reports. The spate of abductions has become so frequent that the local council and traditional rulers have imposed a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
According to sources, the first two victims were taken from Makeke Primary Health Centre on February 8: Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, and Samuel Ilesanmi, who had rushed his son to the health centre with his wife.
In a separate abduction, gunmen attacked the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa in Auchi (from Uma/Imoga), kidnapping him along with his wife and daughter. His wife was later released to arrange ransom for her husband and daughter.
Bode Ekundayo, National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the kidnappers who seized Oriloye and Ilesanmi have demanded N100 million for their release.
“Daring kidnappers struck again in Akoko Edo, this time at Makeke village, less than a kilometre from Ososo, taking away a secondary school female student, Tope Oriloye, and Samuel Ilesanmi on February 8 at the community health centre,” Ekundayo said.
He added: “In a similar operation in Auchi, kidnappers invaded the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa from Uma/Imoga and kidnapped him, his wife and daughter, later releasing his wife to arrange for ransom to free her husband and daughter.”
The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the incidents and is investigating the kidnappings.
