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Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted four persons in Edo State, with a ransom demand of N30 million placed on two of the victims.
The abductions were said to have occurred in Itsorkwi and Imeakabu communities in North Ibie, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, heightening tension among residents.
Sources disclosed that two of the victims were kidnapped last Friday in Itsorkwi community, while two others were abducted on Saturday in nearby Imeakabu.
It was gathered that the gunmen, during the attack in Imeakabu, shot a man identified as Raphael before abducting his wife and another resident, whisking them into the bush.
A community source said the kidnappers of the two victims taken in Itsorkwi had contacted residents, demanding N15 million ransom for each of the captives.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the abductors of the victims in Imeakabu were yet to establish contact with the community or make any ransom demand.
Confirming the incidents, the traditional ruler of the area, the Ogieaga of Three Ibie, HRH Suleiman Ali, said the attackers struck Itsorkwi community before moving to the adjoining Imeakabu community two days later.
He stated that the gunmen forcefully took the victims into the bush, causing panic across the affected communities.
The monarch further disclosed that local security operatives and vigilante groups had commenced a coordinated search operation in the surrounding forests to rescue the victims.
He also confirmed that ransom demands had been made by the kidnappers in respect of the victims taken from Itsorkwi.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Edo State Police Command yielded limited response as the Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said she was yet to receive full details from the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
Ikoedem, however, confirmed that the Command was aware of the incident, noting that only two of the kidnapped persons had been officially reported.
“We are aware of two persons, but only one incident was formally reported at the station. Bush combing is ongoing to ensure the victims are rescued unhurt,” she said.
