Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Benin City, Nigeria — The family of a young medical doctor and his brother is in anguish after gunmen abducted the two men in Edo State and reportedly placed a ₦200 million ransom demand on their heads, authorities and family sources confirmed. The harrowing incident, which took place in the early days of 2026, highlights the deepening insecurity challenges in parts of southern Nigeria and has prompted urgent calls for strengthened protection of citizens and swift police action.
The victims, identified as Dr. Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a medical doctor undergoing his compulsory housemanship at the Edo State Teaching Hospital in Auchi, and his brother Abu Tahir, were kidnapped on January 2, 2026, in the Auchi area of Etsako West Local Government Area. According to family members and local reports, the two men had just returned from work and were approaching their residence along City Pride Road at Igbira Camp, Auchi when the assailants struck. Initial accounts indicate that Tahir had stepped out of the vehicle to open their gate when armed men lying in ambush seized both brothers at gunpoint and whisked them into the nearby bush.
The father of the abducted men, Alhaji Momoh Tahir, told journalists and community contacts that the kidnappers contacted the family soon after the abduction and demanded an exorbitant ransom of ₦200 million for the brothers’ release. Negotiations are understood to be ongoing, and in a rare concession, the kidnappers reportedly agreed to reduce the amount to ₦100 million, with the family hoping further dialogue could bring the figure down even more. “It’s a trying period for our family, but I pray that they would come back home safely,” Alhaji Tahir was quoted saying, underlining the emotional toll the ordeal has taken on his loved ones.
Security officials in the state have confirmed the abduction and are actively engaged in search and rescue efforts. The Edo State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer ASP Eno Ikoedem, acknowledged that the incident was reported at about 8:30 p.m. on January 2 and that a coordinated deployment of security personnel was immediately initiated. The police have marshalled officers from the Auchi Divisional Headquarters, working in collaboration with local vigilantes, forest guards, and Community Safety Partnership Volunteers familiar with the terrain. According to the command, the objective of the joint efforts is to locate and rescue the victims while apprehending their captors. “No stone will be left unturned to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted brothers,” ASP Ikoedem assured.
The abduction has stirred widespread concern among residents of Auchi and the broader Edo State community, particularly because the victims are well-known locally and are seen as contributing positively to society. Dr. Babatunde’s role at the teaching hospital placed him on the frontline of healthcare delivery in the region, a service rendered all the more valuable amid ongoing national efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s public health system. His brother, Tahir, is similarly respected in community circles, having been actively involved in youth and educational activities prior to his graduation.
Security analysts say the incident underscores the persistence of kidnapping for ransom as a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria, a trend that has affected citizens across social and professional strata. The practice, once predominantly associated with bandit-affected regions in the northwest and northeast, has in recent years spread to other parts of the country, including the south and southeast. Experts note that such criminal activity feeds on gaps in rural and peri-urban security infrastructure, limited police presence in forested areas, and the lucrative nature of ransom payments that embolden criminal networks.
The ripple effects of kidnapping extend far beyond the immediate trauma for victims and their families. Economists and security commentators point out that the pervasive threat of abductions undermines investor confidence, disrupts local economies, and places tremendous emotional and financial strain on households that are frequently compelled to raise large sums under duress. One recent analysis of Nigeria’s hostage crisis highlighted how ransom demands often exact heavy social and economic costs on families, sometimes forcing them into long-term debt or loss of livelihood.
In response to the Auchi abduction, community leaders have appealed to government officials and security agencies at both state and federal levels to intensify efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks and enhance safeguarding mechanisms. Traditional rulers and civic groups in the region have urged a combination of enhanced patrol operations, community-police intelligence sharing, and deployment of rapid-response units to vulnerable areas. There have also been calls for investment in development programmes aimed at addressing underlying grievances and economic marginalisation that can make communities susceptible to criminal infiltration.
Civil society organisations advocating for human rights and security reform have decried the normalization of ransom culture in Nigeria, pressing authorities to prioritise rescue operations and judicial action against suspected kidnappers when apprehended. “Allowing such criminality to persist erodes the fabric of society and jeopardises the safety of hardworking citizens simply going about their daily lives,” a spokesperson for one rights group said in a statement. These groups also echoed the family’s plea for swift action and compassionate handling of negotiations, stressing that victims’ lives must remain paramount throughout the process.
Meanwhile, sources close to the family have shared details of the emotional toll the ordeal has had on the victims’ relatives. The months leading up to the kidnapping had been defined by Dr. Babatunde’s dedication to his profession even as he balanced the demands of medical training and community service. His parents described him as a promising young doctor committed to improving healthcare access in rural communities. The sudden disruption of his life and that of his brother has left relatives and friends grappling with fear and helplessness, adding to their urgency in seeking a safe return for the men.
State authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the affected family and coordinating with security agencies to ensure a peaceful resolution. In a statement released by his office, the Edo State Governor expressed deep concern over the abduction and ordered security agencies to redouble their efforts. The governor also urged citizens to remain vigilant and to support lawful channels for reporting suspicious activities that could assist in rescue operations.
As negotiations over the ransom demand continue behind the scenes, the broader community watches anxiously, hoping that the ordeal will soon end with the safe and unconditional release of Dr. Babatunde and his brother. The incident has brought into sharp relief the urgency of tackling insecurity, with the families of hostages and communities nationwide calling for renewed determination to protect citizens from criminal predation.
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