Gunmen abduct police inspector, wife, daughter, 2 others in Edo, demand N100m ransom

Tension has gripped parts of Edo State following the abduction of a Police Inspector, his wife, daughter, and two other residents in separate kidnapping incidents suspected to have been carried out by gunmen.

The police officer, identified as Inspector Segun Obanowa, was reportedly kidnapped alongside his family members at their residence in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.

Sources said the gunmen stormed the area and whisked away the officer, his wife, and their daughter, leaving neighbours and residents in shock.

In a related development, two other victims Miss Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, and Samuel Ilesanmi were also abducted the same day at the Makeke Community Health Centre in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi were allegedly kidnapped when the gunmen invaded the community’s health centre.

Samuel Ilesanmi was reportedly abducted when he rushed his son to the health centre with his wife.

Bode Ekundayo, the National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People disclosed this on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 in a statement in Benin City.

Ekundayo, said the abductors of the Police Inspector, an indigene of Uma/Imoga community, in Akoko Edo local government area of the state, released his wife to raise money for the payment of an undisclosed amount demanded by the gunmen for her husband and daughter.