Suspected kidnappers have killed a 300-level student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and abducted five other persons, including the secretary to a traditional ruler's palace, in separate attacks in Edo State.
The incidents were said to have occurred in Ekpoma and Idoa communities on July 10 and July 12, raising fresh concerns over insecurity in parts of the state.
It was gathered that the university student was attacked when armed men invaded his residence in Ekpoma on Sunday night. The assailants reportedly killed the student before abducting a woman from the area. The identity of the deceased had yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The incident was reportedly disclosed on the Esan Political Assembly Facebook page.
In a separate attack at Idoa in Esan West Local Government Area, gunmen abducted the secretary to the Idoa palace and three children on Friday.
A family member of one of the victims said the palace secretary was repairing his broken-down vehicle near a farm when the attackers emerged from the bush and whisked him away alongside the children, who had accompanied him.
According to the source, the abductors have demanded a ransom of N30m and threatened to kill the victims if the money is not paid.
"They contacted the family and demanded N30 million. They warned that if the ransom is not paid, they will kill the victims. The children are our neighbours' children who followed him to help repair his vehicle," the source said.
The family appealed to the Edo State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims, adding that the incident had been reported to the police.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command's spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, did not respond to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attacks come months after gunmen reportedly killed a community chief, Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi, in Idoa and abducted his two daughters during an invasion of his residence in February. His wife was also said to have sustained machete injuries during the attack.
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