Suspected kidnappers have abducted two persons from the Makeke Health Centre in the Umakeke community of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State.
The incident was disclosed on Wednesday in Benin by the National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People (MAAP), Mr. Omowumi Bode Ekundayo. According to him, those abducted include a nurse at the health centre, Mrs. Gladys Okomayin; a female secondary school student, Miss Tope Oriloye; and Mr. Samuel Ilesanmi, who had reportedly rushed his son to the facility for medical treatment.
It was later learnt that the kidnappers abandoned the nurse in the bush after she could not keep up with their pace, leaving behind Miss Oriloye and Mr. Ilesanmi.
Ekundayo said local hunters and vigilantes in Makeke mobilised immediately and combed the surrounding forest in an effort to rescue the victims, but their search yielded no result.
He further disclosed that the abductors had contacted the families, demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for the release of Miss Oriloye and Mr. Ilesanmi.
He said, “We have written, warned, and passed timely information to all security agencies and the tiers of government in Edo State earlier.
“Or is it not yet obvious that the worsening scourge will snowball into intractable catastrophes in future? Akoko Edo is surrounded… Is it not clear that Benue and Kwara states are fast descending to Edo State, their open gateway being the vast wilderness of Akoko Edo?”
Confirming the incident, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eno Ikoedem, said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the victims.
