In a chilling illustration of the worsening insecurity in Edo State, six victims were released from captivity on September 9, 2025, after their families paid a staggering ₦60 million ransom at the UBA Akpakpava branch in Benin City, right beside the Central Bank.
The victims had been abducted along the Benin–Akure Road by armed kidnappers, including a runaway soldier and Fulani herdsmen. Gunshots, screams, and forests turned into makeshift prisons marked the harrowing ordeal. One of the freed victims, Kingsley Obasohan, voiced his frustration: “Nigeria has descended into the abyss. The police have failed us. Kidnappers roam free while officers chase down yahoo boys.”
This incident is part of a broader wave of insecurity in Edo State. Earlier, on September 5, 2025, gunmen abducted passengers from an 18-seater bus belonging to New Edo Line and a Toyota Corolla along the same highway. While 16 of the abducted passengers were rescued, the kidnappers demanded ₦15 million ransom per victim, showing the growing audacity of criminal gangs.
Human rights groups have expressed deep concern over the rising numbers of armed kidnappers infiltrating parts of Edo State. In response, the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), alongside local vigilante groups, has intensified operations to dismantle criminal syndicates. These efforts have led to the arrest of several notorious kidnappers and the rescue of numerous victims.
Despite these interventions, kidnappings continue to escalate in frequency and brutality. In March 2025, a mob in Uromi killed at least seven suspected kidnappers after accusing them of abductions, reflecting the public’s frustration with perceived law enforcement inefficiency.
The situation underscores the urgent need for stronger security reforms and collaborative measures between the government, law enforcement agencies, and local communities to restore safety along Edo State highways and protect innocent lives.
📌 Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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