Barely a year after terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja, at a place called Katari in Kaduna State, the Edo State Police Command said scores of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen on Saturday, January 7, 2023.
Many of the travellers were also reportedly injured.
Chidi Nwabuzor, the Edo Police public relations officer, confirmed the incident in a statement.
The statement claimed that the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush.
The Command added that many of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, assuring that operatives were on the trail of the abductors with an aim to rescue those the kidnap victims herded into the bush.
The statement read, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated”, Nwabuzor stated.
March 28, 2022, Abuja-Kaduna train attack resulted in the death of about 14 passengers, and while 63 others were officially declared abducted.
Delta: Hoodlums Disrupt APC Campaign Event, Abduct Former PDP Youth Leader
There was tension in Aladja Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State following the disruption of an All Progressives Congress Party, APC, event, organised by a former youth leader, Obaro Matthew Jagogo at Ward 10.
The hoodlums stormed the event, alleging that Jagogo was owing them the sum of four hundred thousand naira.
They told the crowd of visitors already seated that they did not come for anyone but Jagogo and thereafter bundled him into a waiting car and brought down canopies.
They also chased the DJ away.
Comrade Jagogo had organized the event with the intention of dumping the PDP for the All Progressives Congress for reasons best known to him before the incident occurred.
The likes of Collins Egbetamah, a House of Assembly candidate, Keston Okoro, and Williki were being expected at the event when the hoodlums stormed the area at Ekregware Quarters in Aladja community.
When approached for comments, the APC Ward 10 Chairman in the Aladja community, Mr. Abeyi Lucky who was at the scene boarding a commercial motorcycle in solidarity with Jagogo said, “it is just a scene we did not expect”.
At the time of this report, there were fears that the incident might cause a crisis between the APC and the opposition in the community.
