Eleven Kidnap Victims Escape After Abductors Fall Asleep in Edo State

Eleven individuals abducted from their farms in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have regained their freedom after successfully escaping from their captors.

The victims reported that they were seized by six armed men on their way home from their farms. After being force-marched through the forest overnight, the group noticed their captors had become exhausted and had fallen asleep. Seizing the opportunity, the victims fled the scene and managed to locate police officers nearby.

In a separate account shared at the state police headquarters, another survivor, Gloria Inyanugbo, described her harrowing experience after being kidnapped in January. She revealed that she was held for four days until her husband paid a ₦3 million ransom, along with an additional ₦300,000 for food and supplies for the kidnappers. She credited the eventual arrest of the suspects to a combination of community vigilance and police tracking technology.

During a press briefing on Friday, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, announced that the command had arrested 32 suspected kidnappers throughout June. He further noted that 38 victims were rescued during the same period through intelligence-led operations.

In addition to tackling kidnapping, the Commissioner reported that the command apprehended 45 suspects in June for various violent crimes, including cultism, armed robbery, and murder. Agbonika praised the professionalism of his officers and highlighted the critical role of public cooperation in these security successes.

“The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment and selflessness of our officers, who collaborate closely with other security agencies and receive support from the public,” Agbonika stated. He reaffirmed the command’s dedication to making Edo one of the safest states in the country.