15 persons kidnapped in Akoko-Edo in one month, 1 killed, 5 missing --- Edo lawmaker

By Editor

August 23, 2023

No fewer than 15 persons have been kidnapped in the last one month in Akoko-Edo local Government Area of Edo State.

DailyMonitorngr reports that Hon Donald Okogbe, People's Democratic Party (PDP), lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo constituency II in the state House of Assembly made the disclosure in a 

matter of urgent public importance at the plenary.

The motion was co-sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the house, Mrs Maria Edeko and 9 others.

Okogbe said about 15 persons had been kidnapped so far in the local government, one killed and five still missing.

According to him, on July 12, four persons were kidnapped at Auchi/Igarra/Ibillo express way in Akoko-Edo and another person was kidnapped on the same road on the 22nd of the same month

"On August 1, a pastor was kidnapped on his way to the farm along Igarra road and is yet to be found.

"On August 3, four persons were kidnapped between Igarra and Sasaro areas of Akoko-Edo and till now they are nowhere to be found",he said.

The lawmakers, who decried the 

 increasing rate of kidnapping in the locality and the entire state, urged the state government to procure drones for surveillance for the troubled areas in order to curb the resurging kidnapping menace .

They also called on the commissioner for Public safety and security to take proactive steps towards surveillance of the affected roads and communities to address the security challenges.

On her part, the Deputy Speaker ,Hon Maria Edeko, who co-sponsored the motion noted with dismay the resurgence of the activities of Kidnappers at Uromi and Uzea communities in Esan North East local government area of the state.

Edeko lamented that their activities had made life difficult for the people of the areas as they could no longer go to their farms and carry out their daily commercial activities.

"Some armed gunmen have been abducting people in different parts of Uromi community in the past few weeks making them to live in perpetual fear and to close their businesses quite earlier than usual.

"Some people were reportedly kidnapped at various times and locations in Uromi by armed gunmen and were only released after seven days in captivity while some others have not been released.

"It is now a common knowledge that the kidnappers often request for a ransom, food, illicit drugs and recharge cards from families of kidnapped victims

"The activities of kidnappers in Uromi and Uzeah communities forced the United Uromi Youth Association to protest and cried out to government and security agencies to protect the people from kidnapping"she added.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers who called on the state government to put measures in place to urgently stem the menace of kidnappings in order to restore security of life and property in every nook and cranny of the state.

The Speaker, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, however, directed that clean copies of the resolution be forwarded to the relevant authorities for immediate action.