Suspected criminal Fulani herdsmen have reportedly kidnapped a retired headmaster, Mr. Eliaser Olorunloju, and a 12-year-old girl in separate attacks in Edo State, sparking renewed fears over insecurity in the region.
Olorunloju was abducted near a Fulani settlement between Sasaro and Ayetoro along the deteriorated Igarra–Uneme-Nekhua–Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. He was said to be returning to Ugboshi-ele from Igarra, where he had gone to make photocopies of documents in preparation for his son’s resumption at a tertiary institution.
Family sources say the kidnappers have demanded a ₦70 million ransom for his release.
“Akoko-Edo Under Siege” – CMIA
Confirming the incident, Comrade Victor Arogunyo, Director of Operations and Strategy for the Concerned Minds Initiative of Akoko-Edo (CMIA), decried the frequent abductions in the area:
“This is about the fifth kidnapping at the same spot near a Fulani camp. The government must act now. That settlement is less than a
five-minute walk from the crime scene,” Arogunyo said.
He cited poor road infrastructure, underfunded security, and ineffective prosecution of suspects as key enablers of rising crime in Edo North.
Another Attack in Etsako West
In a separate incident in Ayogwiri, Etsako West LGA, a group of women returning from the farm was attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen. A 12-year-old girl was kidnapped while her mother and two others sustained injuries. The abductors are reportedly demanding a ₦5 million ransom for the girl’s release.
Community Demands Action
Reacting to the incident, Engr. Vincent Ozemoya, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the community, issued a statement:
“The BoT calls on all relevant security agencies to cleanse our farms and forests of criminal elements — be they herdsmen or kidnappers.”
As at the time of this report, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, could not be reached for comments.
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