Gunmen kill father, kidnap 2 daughters, demand N40m ransom

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a man identified as Chief Ojemai Jacob, injured his wife, and abducted his two daughters in Edo State. The gunmen reportedly stormed the home of Chief Jacob, a palace chief, in the Idoa community of Esan West Local Government Area penultimate week. During the attack, they shot the […]

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a man identified as Chief Ojemai Jacob, injured his wife, and abducted his two daughters in Edo State.

The gunmen reportedly stormed the home of Chief Jacob, a palace chief, in the Idoa community of Esan West Local Government Area penultimate week. During the attack, they shot the Chief dead, inflicted injuries on his wife, and forcibly took his daughters into the bush.

A source close to the family stated that the suspected kidnappers initially demanded a N40 million ransom for the girls’ release, but have since reduced the demand to N20 million.

“The father, who should have been the one fighting to raise the ransom, was killed by the kidnappers. The family is now in a dilemma over how to raise the money,” the source said, adding that the community is currently making efforts to see how they can secure the daughters’ freedom.

The traditional ruler of the area, the Onojie of Idoa, Alhaji Amedu Momoh, confirmed the incident.

He said four armed men stormed the palace chief’s house, killed him, and kidnapped his two children.

He called on the Edo State government and security agencies to beef up security in the community, noting that gunmen have been terrorizing the area.

The spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident, stating that the command has commenced a manhunt to rescue the victims unhurt.

She was, however, silent on the reported ransom demand.