Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A tragic kidnapping and murder case in Edo State has highlighted the ruthless evolution of rural abductions and betrayal among close associates after a farmer was abducted in Utese Village, Ovia Southwest Local Government Area and later killed inside the bush forest where he was held. Security agencies have arrested multiple suspects connected with the crime following investigations that uncovered ransom dealings and betrayal by a close friend.
The incident began on February 4, 2026, when 42-year-old pineapple farmer Edafe Oghenekome and his sister, Favour Ighasa, were abducted from their residence by an armed kidnapping syndicate. Sources say the attackers demanded a ransom of ₦50 million from the family in exchange for their release.
Investigations by the Nigeria Police Force revealed that the kidnappers collected about ₦2 million of the demanded ransom, after which Favour Ighasa was released on February 9, 2026. However, after the partial ransom payment, communications about Oghenekome’s release stopped, raising alarm among relatives and authorities.
Police subsequently launched combing operations into the extensive forest belts in the region, focusing on intelligence-led patrols that have become typical in confronting armed criminal groups exploiting wooded terrain for abduction hideouts.
A key breakthrough came when operatives arrested a suspect named Abdulsalam Mohammadu, aged 21, who began cooperating with investigators. Mohammadu disclosed the identities of others involved, including a 45-year-old hunter, Kehinde Adetunji, and a younger accomplice, Nasiru Yau, 24, who allegedly assisted in sustaining the gang by providing food and supplies while the victims were held in the forest.
Adetunji — widely described in police reports as the syndicate’s local informant or “pointer” — was a close friend of Oghenekome, a detail that shocked community members. Police detectives say Oghenekome was able to identify Adetunji while still in captivity, raising fears among the kidnappers that he could expose their identities and operations if released.
According to the police, rather than risk exposure, members of the gang executed Oghenekome inside the forest after he recognised Adetunji, and then abandoned his body there. The arrested suspects later led investigators to the scene in Igueladidi Forest, Iguobazuwa, where Oghenekome’s decomposing remains were recovered.
During the arrests, security forces also seized weapons—including two AK-47 rifles and three Dane guns—indicating that the operation was armed and well-organised.
Police confirmed that all suspects arrested so far have confessed to their involvement in the abduction, ransom collection, and the murder of the farmer. The Edo State Police Command has intensified efforts to apprehend additional members of the syndicate who remain at large.
The revelation that Oghenekome’s close friend Adetunji was instrumental in luring him into danger has drawn strong reactions from the local community, which has described the act as betrayal and a serious escalation in criminal sophistication. Local leaders expressed grief and outrage over the farmer’s death and called on authorities to pursue justice aggressively.
Kidnapping for ransom has been increasingly reported across southern and southwestern Nigeria, with criminals often preying on rural inhabitants involved in agriculture or trading. Analysts attribute the trend to a combination of factors, including porous forest borders, limited security infrastructure in remote areas, and insider information used to identify vulnerable targets.
The Edo State Police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, emphasised that the command was committed to dismantling kidnapping networks and invited community members to provide timely intelligence to assist law enforcement. Public appeals have been issued urging vigilance and cooperation with security operations as investigations continue.
Human rights and community advocates have also urged a multi-layered approach to combatting abductions, calling for increased rural policing, stronger local watch initiatives, and collaboration between citizens and security agencies to monitor high-risk routes and forest corridors.
The case in Utese village underscores broader concerns about organised kidnapping syndicates that target farmers, traders, and travellers in Nigeria’s countryside. Authorities say they will prosecute suspects to the fullest extent of the law once investigations are complete.
For many in the community, the killing of Oghenekome — orchestrated with the involvement of a friend — has marked the incident as not just a crime of violence but a cautionary example of how betrayal and criminal opportunism increasingly imperil rural livelihoods.
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