By Favour Percy-Idubor
Kidnappers seem to be having a funfare at Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in Edo State as five persons, including a police officer were reportedly abducted in two separate operations by suspected kidnappers in the area. The disturbing trend has become a daily occurrence in the local government area, which has forced the local government council and the traditional rulers to impose a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am daily.
It was gathered that the first two victims Tope Oriloye, and Samuel Ilesanmi, were kidnaped at the Makeke Primary Health Centre, while the other happened at the residence of a Police Inspector, Segun Obanowa in Auchi from Uma/Imoga where he was kidnapped alongside his wife and daughter.
However, his wife was later released to go and arrange for ransom to free her husband and daughter.
In a statement, yesterday, made available to journalists in Benin City, the National Coordinator, Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, Bode Ekundayo 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 SegunObanowa 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 hunters and vigilantes in Makeke mobilised and entered the wilderness, combing far and near till the early hours of the following day without positive result.
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.”
The group called on the Edo State government and Akoko Edo Local Government to take action and save the local government from the siege of kidnappers.
He said “Is it not clear that gunmen from Benue and Kwara States are fast descending on Edo State, their open gateway being the vast wilderness of Akoko Edo?
When contacted, the PPRO of the Edo State Police Command, EnoIkoedem confirmed the incident.
