The latest incident occurred on Sunday, February 16, 2025, when some armed men stormed a house in Udakpa quarters and abducted a man who was a visitor to the house; the victim’s son reportedly suffered severe head injuries.
This is the second time in 2025 that kidnappers have invaded Udakpa in the middle of the night to abduct residents, according to concerned residents.
Residents of Ubiaja town, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, are currently living in fear as a result of the kidnapers’ invasion of their community.
Residents claim that a similar attack happened last week in Ukpaja, another area of Ubiaja, where the criminals allegedly planned to kidnap a specific individual, also a visitor, but when he was unavailable, they took his mother instead.
According to Dennis Oriasotie, one of the community leaders, the attacks were so precise that many people are wondering how the criminals get information about their targets.
A resident who asked to remain anonymous asked, “Are our people aiding these evil perpetrators? How do they know exactly which houses to attack?”
“Ubiaja is under siege. Esanland is unsafe. The authorities must act now,” said Oselumhense Anetor, a youth leader.
The State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, who said he was yet to be briefed of the incident. He encouraged residents to go to the Divisional Police Station to formally report such an incident.
