Benin City, Edo State – February 11, 2026 — Armed kidnappers struck twice in the Akoko Edo area of Edo North, abducting a police inspector, his wife and daughter, as well as two civilians including a female secondary school student, in operations carried out on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The incidents have heightened fears over deteriorating security in the region and drawn sharp criticism from local leaders.
According to Bode Ekundayo, National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People (MAAP), the first attack occurred at the Makeke community health centre in Makeke village, less than a kilometre from Ososo in the eastern part of Akoko Edo Local Government Area. Gunmen abducted Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, and Samuel Ilesanmi. Mr. Ilesanmi had reportedly rushed his sick son to the health facility alongside his wife when the assailants struck.
In a second incident the same day, a gang invaded the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa in the Uma/Imoga area of Akoko Edo. The criminals kidnapped the inspector, his wife, and their daughter. The kidnappers later released the wife with strict instructions to arrange ransom for the release of her husband and daughter. Ekundayo disclosed that the abductors have demanded N100 million to begin negotiations for the police officer and his daughter.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ekundayo condemned the recurring pattern of exorbitant ransom demands, describing the N100 million figure as an increasingly familiar and troubling trend in the area. “This trend of demanding N100 million to commence ransom negotiation is becoming a familiar thing, having manifested its irritating trend in previous kidnap ransom negotiations,” he said.
The activist expressed deep concern over the apparent inability of security forces to curb the surge in abductions. He revealed that local security agents, including hunters, had combed nearby forests and villages in search of the victims but returned without success. Ekundayo accused authorities of failing to act decisively despite prior warnings and timely intelligence shared with security agencies and all tiers of government in Edo State.
“We have written, warned, and passed timely information to all security agencies and the tiers of government in Edo State earlier,” he stated. “Or is it not yet obvious that the worsening scourge will snowball into intractable catastrophes in future? Akoko Edo is surrounded.”
Reacting to the reports, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, SP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that the Makeke incident had indeed occurred and that some suspects involved in that abduction had been arrested. He added that investigations were actively underway with the aim of apprehending additional perpetrators and rescuing the victims.
“I can confirm to you that a kidnapping case occurred at Makeke Village in Akoko Edo Local Government in Edo North,” Ikoedem said. “Some suspects are in police custody and efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing.”
The police spokesperson did not provide further details on the status of the abducted police inspector and his daughter or the progress of ransom negotiations. However, the confirmation of arrests in the Makeke case offers some indication of police response to at least one of the incidents.
The twin abductions have amplified longstanding concerns about insecurity in Akoko Edo, a largely rural and border area prone to banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and communal clashes. The region’s proximity to forested zones and difficult terrain has frequently been cited as a factor enabling criminal groups to evade security sweeps.
Community leaders and residents have repeatedly called for increased deployment of security personnel, better community policing initiatives, and improved intelligence sharing to stem the tide of kidnappings. The targeting of a serving police inspector has raised particular alarm, underscoring the audacity of the criminal elements operating in the area.
The N100 million ransom demand has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that such inflated figures serve to intimidate families and discourage reporting while enriching criminal networks. In recent months, similar high-stakes demands have been reported in other parts of Edo and neighbouring states, often accompanied by threats of harm to victims if payments are delayed.
As investigations continue, security operatives are under pressure to secure the safe release of the victims and dismantle the syndicates responsible. The Edo State Police Command has appealed for credible information from members of the public that could aid in the rescue operations and prosecution of suspects.
For the families of Tope Oriloye, Samuel Ilesanmi, Inspector Segun Obanowa, and his daughter, the ordeal remains ongoing, with the outcome hanging on the effectiveness of current security efforts and any eventual resolution of ransom negotiations.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the persistent challenge of kidnapping in parts of Nigeria’s South-South region, where economic hardship, weak infrastructure, and limited security presence continue to create fertile ground for criminal activity.
