The Edo State Government revealed today that one suspect had been detained in relation to the alleged Fulani herdsmen abduction of train passengers at Igueben yesterday evening.
Recall that at about 4 p.m., around 30 people who were waiting to board a train to Warri, Delta State, at the Ekehen-Igueben train station in the state's Igueben Local Government Area were abducted.
The kidnappers were Fulani herders, according to Chidi Nwabuzor, Edo State Police Command PPRO, who first broke the news of the abduction. They entered the train station armed with AK 47 assault rifles.
Godwin Okpe, the manager of the train station, Ikhayere, the head of security, Victor Osarobho, a resident of the Igueben village, and Akhere, the ticket agent at the station, were among the 32 people taken hostage by the herdsmen.
Chris Osa Nehikhare, the commissioner for communication and orientation for the state of Edo, described the episode as the most stressful for the state administration when speaking at a news conference this afternoon.
Nehikhare, who revealed that the state's security system sprang into action as soon as the kidnapping happened, added that the efforts had paid off as one of the suspected kidnappers was detained and was assisting the police in putting the episode together.
“Yesterday is no doubt one of the most trying days so far in the new year for us as a government. A few armed men kidnapped 32 people at the Igueben train station. The deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has visited the train station for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
The abductors, some of whom came by vehicles and the others by the bush paths, escaped into the bush with the victims.
Immediately the news filtered in, the police in the area, local vigilantes and hunters swung into action and bush combing began to rescue the victims.
‘Information at our disposal is to the effect that of the 32 people kidnapped, one escaped and we have 31 others with the kidnappers.
“The good news for us as a government is that one of the kidnappers has been arrested and he is helping the police to unravel the whole thing.
“The state government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki wants to commend the swiftness with which the police swung into action. We also want to commend the Edo State Vigilante Group and the local hunters in the area for their efforts so far at rescuing the remaining victims.
“As a government, we hope too that this will be the last time we will have daring people invading our train stations, and particularly, any part of Edo State, as we will make such daring elements uncomfortable and secure our state.
“We want to assure the security agencies and the local hunters and vigilantes that the Edo State Government will continue to support them as efforts are being made to rescue the remaining 31 victims”, Nehikhare assured.
Meanwhile, the traditional rulers of Igueben, HRH Ehizojie Eluojierior I, Onogie of Igueben and Okaigun of Esanland, have described the incident as appalling, adding that the entire community was thrown into “unwanted silence” as the people were yet to come to test with the kidnap.
Onogie Eluojierior, who confirmed the incident, added that many such incidents had taken place without being reported in the media.
“The mood in the town is quiet as well as activated because the police, vigilantes, and hunters are working together on the issue. They combed the bush till midnight on Saturday and resumed on Sunday morning.
“I hear there has been a similar attempt in Delta State by bandits from another part of the country, which was repelled. The attack took everyone by surprise and it happened at about 4pm when the train was being expected”, the Onogie said.