Kidnappers Allegedly Kill 2 Victims After Collecting N3m Ransom in Okpekpe, Edo

Two suspected kidnap victims were allegedly killed in Okpekpe, Edo State, despite the payment of N3 million ransom, triggering a fresh security appeal to Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The victims were among three persons reportedly abducted along the Ebelle-Amughe Road in Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

According to a Save Our Soul (SOS) appeal issued by concerned Okpekpe indigenes, the kidnappers initially demanded N30 million for the release of the three victims.

The community said N3 million was eventually raised and delivered to the abductors in an attempt to secure their freedom.

But the situation allegedly ended tragically, with two of the victims killed while the third escaped with serious gunshot injuries.

The development has heightened concern over the security situation in Okpekpe, with community leaders and former Etsako East Local Government Chairman, Princess Benedicta Attoh, calling for urgent intervention from the Edo State Government and security agencies.

Ransom Paid, Two Victims Allegedly Killed

The latest incident reportedly occurred on August 31 along the Ebelle-Amughe Road.

Omokhagbor Sixtus, writing on behalf of concerned Okpekpe indigenes, said the kidnappers demanded N30 million after abducting the three victims.

He said community members and the victims’ families made efforts to raise money and eventually delivered N3 million to the kidnappers around the Okpella-BUA axis.

Despite the payment, the victims were allegedly not released.

Two were reportedly killed, while the third managed to escape with gunshot wounds.

The community described the development as another indication of the worsening insecurity confronting residents and travellers using the affected routes.

Okpekpe Residents Send SOS to Okpebholo

The concerned indigenes have appealed directly to Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.

Their SOS was also directed to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services in Edo, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the lawmaker representing Etsako East Constituency.

The community wants stronger security coverage along the Ebelle-Amughe and Okpella-BUA corridors, as well as other vulnerable locations around Okpekpe.

It also called for an investigation into the latest incident and efforts to identify those responsible for the alleged killings.

Former Council Chairman Says Okpekpe Is “Under Siege”

The latest incident comes as Princess Benedicta Attoh raises a wider alarm over insecurity in Okpekpe.

Attoh, a former chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, said about 10 people had reportedly lost their lives to banditry and kidnapping in and around the community since November 2024.

She particularly identified the Ebelle-Amughe and Ebelle-Uzanu roads as areas requiring urgent security attention.

According to her, the situation has become severe enough to affect normal life in the community.

Farmers are reportedly increasingly afraid to access their farms, while residents are concerned about travelling between communities.

Attoh described Okpekpe as being “under siege” and urged Governor Okpebholo to treat the security situation as an emergency.

Fear Grows Over Farming and Movement

The insecurity is not only affecting victims of kidnapping and their families.

Concerned residents say fear of attacks is increasingly affecting farming, transportation, trade and other economic activities in the area.

For communities that depend heavily on agriculture, restricted movement to farms can have wider consequences for household income and food production.

The community therefore wants security operations to go beyond responding after an attack.

It is asking for sustained surveillance, intelligence gathering and security presence along known vulnerable routes.

The appeal comes shortly after the Edo State Police Command reported that 13 suspected kidnappers had been arrested and nine kidnapped victims rescued across the state in August.

However, the Okpekpe community says the latest killings show that more needs to be done in the affected corridors.

For residents, the immediate concern is preventing another abduction and restoring confidence in roads and communities that have become increasingly difficult to navigate without fear.