Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
BENIN CITY, Edo State — Security sources and local community organisations have confirmed that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted five people in Akoko‑Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, with relatives of some of the victims reporting a ₦100 million ransom demand for their release.
According to statements from Bode Ekundayo, National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, the abductions occurred on February 8, 2026, in two separate incidents involving armed attackers operating in the northern part of the state. In the first incident, suspected kidnappers stormed Makeke Community Health Centre in the Umakeke area and seized two civilians, identified locally as Samuel Ilesanmi and Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student. Ekundayo said the assailants later contacted the families and demanded ₦100 million as payment for those two victims.
In a separate operation on the same day, the gunmen reportedly raided a residence in Auchi and abducted a police inspector, his wife and their daughter. The police officer has been identified as Inspector Segun Obanowa, an indigene of the Uma/Imoga community. According to community figures, Obanowa’s wife was later released by the kidnappers to facilitate ransom arrangements for the remaining captives, though the amount being sought for them has not been publicly disclosed.
The Edo State Police Command confirmed the kidnapping at Makeke, saying detectives have arrested some suspects and launched investigations, but officials did not immediately provide full details on all victims or the ransom figures involved. Public Relations Officer ASP Eno Ikoedem confirmed that police are working to secure the safe release of those abducted and bring perpetrators to justice.
The developments have intensified concerns about rising insecurity in parts of Edo State, particularly in Akoko‑Edo, where residents have repeatedly appealed for enhanced patrols and support from security agencies. Community leaders said hunters and vigilante groups mobilised quickly after the kidnappings, combing nearby forests and bushland in hopes of locating the abductors, though those early efforts had not yet yielded results as of the latest reports.
Local advocacy groups and traditional authorities have called on the Edo State Government and federal security agencies to deploy additional resources to counter the threat of kidnap gangs operating along remote routes and within rural communities. They warned that such attacks, especially those targeting civilians and security personnel alike, are eroding public confidence and placing immense emotional and economic strain on families affected by abduction and ransom demands.
The Edo State government has yet to issue an official statement responding to the latest kidnappings and ransom demands, but law enforcement officials reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for abductions and protect residents, particularly in areas vulnerable to armed ambushes and forest hideouts.
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