Breaking News: Kidnapped Ex-Edo Lawmaker released by gunmen


By Editor


Jan 13, 2023


Hon Festus Udughele


Honourable Festus Udughele, who represented Esan South East constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly has been released by his abductors. 

Dailymonitorngr reports that the former lawmaker and a staff of the State Accountant-General office were at the early hours of Monday kidnapped by gunmen at Ugoneki village in Uhunmwonde local government area of the state. 

A statement signed by Mr Cletus Oboh, Special Assistant to the former lawmaker and made available to newsmen in Benin city  said he was released few minutes ago (few minutes after 8pm) alongside with one Andrew Usifoh that was kidnapped with him.

According to him, Hon Festus Udughele was released few minutes ago alongside one Andrew Usifoh who was kidnapped with him in the early hours of Monday 9th of January, 2023 along Ugoneki road on their way from Ubiaja to Benin City.

He, however, thanked the people of the state as  well as all the former lawmaker's friends, families and well-wishers for their prayers and support  during the period he was  held in captivity . 

He did not, however, give details on how he was released and whether any ransom was paid to effect his release. 

It was gathered that his abductors demanded a ransom of N200million which they later reduced to between N50million and N20million. 

The former lawmaker and his co-victim were abducted barely three days after the kidnap of 32 passengers at Igueben train station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo state.

The former lawmaker represented Esan South East constituency at the State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress between 2015 and 2019. 

He was kidnapped the same day 
and at the  same Ugoneki community  with  Mrs Precious Aigbonoga, the president of Igueben customary court who was rescued by the security operators on Thursday. 

It was gathered that the former lawmaker was supposed to board a train from the Igueben station to Abuja on Saturday but due to the ill-fated incident, decided to resort to boarding flight to Abuja from Benin airport. 

He was on his way to Benin when he was abducted by gunmen.






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