Suspected kidnappers abducted nine members of the same family in Evboneka community along the Benin-Akure Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State on Monday, February 2, 2026, around 5:00 pm.
The victims, who were returning from school, include five schoolchildren, a nursing mother and her baby, and two other adults.
The father of the family, Mr. Festus Bamidele, said the kidnappers released the nursing mother and her baby shortly after the abduction following heavy rainfall that evening. The mother and baby made their way home, alerting the family to the incident.
Through the joint efforts of local vigilantes and operatives of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force at Evboneka, three additional victims—children in pre-kindergarten classes—were rescued unhurt.
Four victims, aged between 11 and 26 years, remain in captivity. Those still held include Mr. Bamidele’s children, his junior sister, and a sister-in-law.
The kidnappers have since contacted the family and demanded a ransom of N260 million for the release of the remaining victims.
Mr. Bamidele appealed to security agencies and the Edo State government to urgently intervene and ensure the safe rescue of the abducted persons. He also pleaded with the kidnappers to release the victims unconditionally, stating that raising N260 million is impossible for the family.
The Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident through its Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem. She stated that on February 2, 2026, at about 6:00 pm, during a routine bush clearance operation along the Eko-Abeku–Iyowa–Akure Road, suspected kidnappers attacked the family of nine.
“Police operatives of Ekiadolor Division at a nipping point along the expressway engaged the suspects in a gun duel, successfully rescuing five victims unhurt, while four persons were taken away,” ASP Ikoedem said.
She added that the command, in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, has launched an intensive bush combing operation to locate the kidnappers and rescue the remaining victims. Efforts are ongoing.
The incident is the latest in a series of kidnappings plaguing different parts of Nigeria, despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on security matters.
