Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted nine family members in Edo State.
DAILY POST reports that the victims include five school children, a nursing mother and her baby, and two others.
The father of the victims, who identified himself as Mr Festus Bamidele, said they were abducted on Monday, February 2, 2026, at about 5:00 pm while returning from school.
Bamidele said the abductors, however, released the nursing mother and the baby after the rainfall that fell on the fateful day.
He said the family became aware of the incident when the nursing mother and the baby got home.
He said through the assistance of the leadership of vigilante and Mobil Police at Evboneka community, three other victims who are in pre-kindergaten classes were rescued.
He said the incident happened between Eko-Abeku-Iyowa road, within Evboneka community, along the Benin-Akure road.
Bamidele explained that four others, who are between the ages of 11 and 26 years, are still being held captive by the kidnappers.
Among those still being held by the kidnappers are his children, junior sister and a sister-in-law.
He said the kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding the sum of N260 million ransom.
Bamidele appealed to security agencies and the state government to come to his aid by ensuring that the victims are rescued unhurt.
He equally appealed to the kidnappers to kindly release the victims as the sum of N260 million is impossible for him to raise.
When contacted the Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident, said operatives of Ekiadolor Division engaged the suspects in a gun duel and successfully rescued five of the victims unhurt while four persons were taken away.
According to her, on 2/2/2026 at about 1800hrs, during a bush clearance operation at Iyowa Bush along the Eko-Abeku–Iyowa–Akure Road, suspected kidnappers attacked a family of nine.
“Police operatives of Ekiadolor Division at Nipping point along the express engaged the suspects in a gun duel, successfully rescuing five victims unhurt, while four persons were taken away.
“The command in collaboration with hunters and vigilantes, has launched an intensive bush combing exercise for the kidnappers with efforts ongoing to rescue the remaining victims,” she said.
Gunmen abduct nine family members in Edo, demand N260m ransom
