Gunmen kill 300-level varsity student, abduct palace secretary, four others in Edo
Gunmen Kill Student, Abduct Five Others in Edo State
EDO STATE — Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have reportedly killed a third-year student from Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma and abducted five others in separate incidents in the region.
The first incident occurred on Friday, July 10, 2026, in Idoa, where assailants kidnapped the secretary of the community’s palace along with three children. The victims were taken during the morning hours, shortly after the secretary’s vehicle broke down on his way to the farm. Sources said he had returned with tools the following day to make repairs when he and the children were ambushed.
“The abductors have demanded a ransom of N30 million and threatened to kill them if the money is not paid by the end of July 13,” a relative of the secretary said. “The children are neighbors who accompanied him to assist with the repairs.”
In a separate incident on Sunday, July 12, a student, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was taken from his residence during a nighttime invasion by the gunmen. A woman was also reportedly abducted during the same attack.
Details about the incidents were shared on the Esan Political Assembly’s Facebook page.
The relative of the kidnapped secretary expressed concern for their safety and urged government and security agencies to intervene. He confirmed that the matter has been reported to the police.
As of the time of this report, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, had not responded to queries regarding the incidents.
This event marks a continuation of violence in the region, which saw a community chief, Jimah Jacob Ogboi, killed in February 2026, with his daughters abducted by armed assailants. Reports indicated that the attackers shot Ogboi and assaulted his wife before fleeing with the two girls.
