Gunmen Kill AAU Student in Ekpoma, Kidnap Palace Secretary, Three Children

EKPOMA – Residents of parts of Esan West Local Government Area are living in fear after suspected kidnappers carried out two separate attacks, killing a student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, and abducting five other persons.

The incidents happened in Ekpoma and Idoa communities within a few days of each other, raising fresh concerns about security in the area.

In the first incident, a 300-level student of Ambrose Alli University was reportedly kidnapped from his residence in Ekpoma on Sunday night.

The student was said to have been taken away alongside a woman after armed men stormed the house.

Although his identity had not been made public at the time of filing this report, information shared by the Esan Political Assembly claimed that the student was later killed by his abductors.

There was no immediate information on the condition or whereabouts of the woman who was kidnapped with him.

In another incident, gunmen reportedly abducted the secretary of the traditional palace in Idoa Community and three children who were with him.

A family member said the palace secretary had travelled towards his farm but later returned after his vehicle developed a fault. He was repairing the vehicle when armed men reportedly came out from the bush and attacked him.

The gunmen also took the three children, who were said to be neighbours that had accompanied him to help fix the vehicle.

The family said the kidnappers later contacted them and demanded ₦30 million for the victims’ release.

“My brother went back to repair his vehicle after it broke down. While he was working on it, the gunmen appeared from the bush and took him and the children into the forest,” the family member said.

He added that the kidnappers threatened to kill the victims if the ransom was not paid.

As of the time of this report, the Edo State Police Command had not confirmed either incident. Calls and messages sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Eno Ikoedem, were yet to receive a response.

The latest attacks have again drawn attention to the security situation in Esan West, where residents have continued to express worries over repeated cases of kidnapping.

Earlier this year, Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi, a senior community leader, was reportedly shot dead during an attack in the area. His wife was injured, while two of his daughters were abducted.

Many residents are now calling on security agencies to increase patrols and step up efforts to stop kidnappers operating in the area.