Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Fresh insecurity has gripped parts of Edo State following separate attacks by suspected kidnappers that claimed the life of a 300-level student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, and left five other persons, including a palace secretary and three children, in captivity. The attacks occurred in Ekpoma and Idoa communities in Esan West Local Government Area on Sunday, July 12, and Friday, July 10, 2026, respectively.
In the Ekpoma incident, gunmen invaded the Glad Tiding (GT) Extension area on Sunday night, killing a 300-level student whose identity had yet to be officially confirmed at the time of this report. The assailants reportedly shot the student dead and abducted a woman from the area, whisking her away to an unknown destination. The deadly assault sparked fear and panic across the neighbourhood, forcing many residents to flee their homes over fears of another attack. According to a Facebook post by the Esan Political Assembly, the student was later killed by his abductors, while details surrounding the fate of the woman remained unclear.
In a separate attack in Idoa, gunmen abducted the secretary to the community's traditional palace and three children on Friday morning, July 10, 2026. A family source, who identified himself as the victim's brother, told Daily Post that the palace secretary had been travelling to his farm when his vehicle broke down. He left it at the spot and returned the next day with tools to repair it. “As he was there to repair the vehicle, gunmen just came out from the bush, rounded them up and took them into the bush,” the source recounted. The children, who were neighbours of the palace secretary, had accompanied him to offer support and were expected to return home with him after the repair.
The abductors have since contacted the family, demanding a N30 million ransom and threatening to kill the victims if the money is not paid before the end of July 13. “My brother was kidnapped on Friday morning at the Idoa community, in Esan West Local Government Area. He is the secretary of the Idoa palace. They are demanding for N30 million. He was kidnapped alongside other small children that were with him. They have made contact demanding for N30m ransom and threatened that if we did not bring the money by the end of today, they will kill them,” the source said. He explained that the children were those of his neighbours who followed the palace secretary to help repair his vehicle.
The latest attacks have heightened fears among residents of Esan West, which has witnessed a series of violent crimes in recent months. On February 26, 2026, a senior community chief, Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi, was reportedly shot dead by armed men during a night attack in the area. His wife sustained machete injuries, while his two daughters were abducted by the attackers. The recurring attacks have renewed calls for stronger security measures to tackle the growing menace of kidnapping and violent crime in Edo communities.
As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Eno Ikoedem, had yet to respond to enquiries seeking confirmation of the incidents. The family of the palace secretary and the abducted children have appealed to the government and security agencies for urgent intervention to rescue the victims. With the abductors' deadline fast approaching, the community waits in anguish, hoping for a swift rescue before another tragedy unfolds.
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