FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Suspected kidnappers at the weekend invaded Ubuneke-Ivbiaro Community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State and abducted a man and killed his wife.
AljazirahNigeria gathered that the gunmen stormed the man’s house at about 8pm, shot his wife in the neck and immediately abducted the husband, identified as Mr Arimazoya Abona.
The gunshot, eye witnesses said alerted neighbours who rushed to the scene, but were shocked to find the lifeless body of the woman in front of the house, while the husband was taken away.
The gunmen came through the bush path leading to Ivbiaro-Auchi-Ikpeshi forest to abduct the man in his 70s.
Youths in the community were said to have immediately mobilised and went into the bush in pursuit of the abductors in a bid to rescue the victim without success.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force at Afuze Divisional Headquarters, where the incident was reported, did not responded to the distress call until after 8am on Monday.
The policemen reportedly visited the scene alongside personnel of the Nigerian Army. The corpse of the deceased has been deposited in a morgue.
The abductors have contacted the family and are demanding N100 million ransom.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that gunmen had on Friday, March 8, killed Mr Danjuma Emokpaire at his farm in the community.
The late Emokpaire was said to have gone to the farm, but never returned home.
His corpse was, however, discovered the next day, March 9 in the farm when the family did not see him, prompting youths to go in search of him.
Also last year, a member of the community was kidnapped in his farm and was released after payment of ransom.
The gunmen suspected to be herdsmen had on Monday, May 15, raped a married woman and beat her husband in his farm in the same community.
The suspected herdsmen who were armed and six in number invaded the farm at about 10:30am, beat the husband and raped his wife in his presence.
Several persons have been physically attacked with victims sustaining various degrees of injuries, including the serial attacks and kidnapping of travelers on Ivbiaro-Auchi road resulting in fatalities sometimes.
Reacting, the Village Head of Ivbiokhulotor Community, Chief Isah Osikhekhai, described the killing of the woman and abduction of her husband as barbaric and unfortunate.
Osikhekhai said the once peaceful community has now been turned into a killing field by unknown gunmen.
“It is worrisome that a community that was well known for peace has now been turned into something else by gunmen who are now kidnapping and killing my people.
“We are farmers, but because of the activities of these gunmen, people no longer go to the farm. We are in the planting season and if our people don’t farm, where are we going to get food to eat, and take care of our families?
He appealed to the Edo State government, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the member representing Owan Federal Constituency, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the lawmaker representing Owan East constituency in the House of Assembly, acting chairman of Owan East Local Government Area and all security agencies to come to our aid.
