Gunmen believed to be kidnappers are demanding N100 million to secure the release of eight Imoga residents abducted on Friday night.
In a telephone conversation on Monday, Oba Patrick Obajoye, the Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, said that the victims were abducted at the Star Boy Hotel on Imoga-Ibillo Road in Edo North.
According to him, the victims chose to spend the night at the Star Boy hotel, which was owned by an Imoga native, after traveling to Ibillo for an event.
The king said that the kidnappers pretended to be waiting for someone when they arrived at the hotel wearing army uniforms and brought refreshments.
He mentioned that eventually the hotel owner was confronted by the kidnappers, who then took his two phones. He claimed that they also took the others’ phones, bound their hands, and led them on foot into the bush.
He said, “As it is now, the kidnappers have reduced the ransom to N70m. When we begged for further reduction, they said one of the vehicles belonging to the hotelier should be sold to pay the ransom.
“Eight of them are currently in the kidnappers’ den, including one woman. The kidnapping looked like an inside job if one considers the way the gunmen spoke to those negotiating the ransom.
“It is a very sad day for us in our community, and we hope that this will end well for our indigenes. However, raising this money is a big task.
“Imagine young men and a woman with a great life ahead of them being abducted at a hotel where they have gone to lodge after a function.
The monarch praised the personnel of the Edo State Police Command and the state government for their efforts at rescuing the kidnapped victims.
He added, “The Edo State Police Command, in conjunction with the state government, came to trace the kidnappers with modern gadgets, but it was unsuccessful.
“We hope that the rescue move will continue so that the victims can reunite with their families.”
It was also gathered that one person sustained a gunshot injury while attempting to escape, and he is presently being treated at an undisclosed hospital.
The PPRO of the state police command, Eno Ikoedem, asked for time to respond as of the time of filing the report.
The two brothers who had been abducted on November 10 along Adughe–Imoga Road in Edo State were freed after their kidnappers allegedly slept off in the forest.
The Uma/Imoga village was thrown into disarray when the brothers, known as Isaac and Victor Olayere, were kidnapped on November 8 and the kidnappers demanded N22 million as ransom.
The brothers reportedly called their father using an unidentified number to let him know they had escaped from captivity while attempts were underway to raise the ransom.
The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye, confirmed the development at that time in a telephone interview.
