Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have rescued a 70-year-old man from kidnappers and foiled the payment of a ₦30 million ransom. The victim, identified as Jonah Owobu of Uwalo Oke community in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state, was abducted from his farm by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on April 20, 2026. The Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said the victim was rescued through a joint operation involving the police, vigilantes and local hunters.
She said the Command received a report on April 21, 2026, from the victim’s wife, who stated that her husband had gone to the farm on April 20 but did not return home. Army nabs 9 Oil Thieves, Deactivates 10 Illegal Refining Sites in N’Delta Jalingo submerged Despite Taraba’s N2bn ecological fund According to her, the kidnappers later contacted the family and demanded a ransom of ₦30 million for his release. Ikoedem said while the family struggled to raise the money, the police mobilised a joint team comprising operatives, military personnel, local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Corps for a search and rescue operation in the forest.
She said the victim’s abandoned motorcycle and personal belongings were recovered along a forest path, which helped operatives trace the kidnappers’ hideout. She added that on sighting the operatives, the suspects fled into the bush and abandoned the victim. The police said efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.