Gunmen Threaten to Kill Edo State Hostages as Ransom Negotiations Stall

Armed gunmen have threatened to kill some of the eight residents of Imoga community in Edo State who were kidnapped from a local hotel earlier this month, community leaders reported on Friday.

According to a statement from the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, the kidnappers are pressuring families and the community to meet their ransom demand after negotiations broke down.

The group’s coordinator, Bode Ekundayo, stated the kidnappers initially demanded ₦100 million, later lowering it to ₦40 million—an amount the community has been unable to raise.

“Despite efforts led by the traditional ruler to gather funds, the amount raised falls far short of what the kidnappers are asking,” Ekundayo said. He added that the assailants are now “threatening to kill some of the victims to prove that they mean business.”

In a separate incident on Thursday, two brothers from the community narrowly escaped abduction while working on a farm. One was initially seized but managed to escape later that night after a search party mobilized.

The community continues to call for urgent intervention as tensions rise over the stalled negotiations and the safety of the hostages.