Newsbreak: Suspected Fulani kidnappers of Edo Chief, pregnant wife demand N20m

Community rise in
protest

By Samuel Ogunsona

Hundreds of youths in Agbede, a community in Edo State have protested against the continuous kidnapping of people in the area.

The latest incidence was the kidnap of a pregnant woman and a local chief. Irohinoodua was informed on Saturday that the kidnappers are demanding for N20m. The pregnant wife and the Chief, locals said are kept in inhuman and degrading conditions.

Chief Alh. Mutairu Kabiru Igene alias Amari and his pregnant wife of Amari Mujanetu Kabiru Igene were kidnapped at Agbede by suspected Fulani armed men on Friday.

The youth leader Muatairu Mohammed (Atarado) led the protest in the community.

The youths said they could not understand why human beings could kidnap fellow human beings not to talk of a pregnant woman.

The youths said they were tired of ceaseless kidnapping saying the alleged Fulani invaders threaten the peace and livelihood of residents.

The protesters were joined by the Councillor representing Etsako West local government area.

The youth leader lamented that the police Area Commander has neglected the people.

He said “I have not seen a place where the people that own the community would be deprived of their own land.”

The councilor while speaking to the LGA chairman said, “we are very aware of how you have been trying, how you have been giving support to our local vigilantes to ensure that they are able to curb this security matter but the Area Commander, the police, they are not giving us any support. We have come, we want you to do more. We want you to provide security for our people.”

One of the protesters said “You are the grassroot government for our people. We are asking for more. You have to do more because the major responsibility of government is to protect lives and property. We cannot watch our people die. We don’t have food, even me, I have a farm but I cannot continue because of insecurity, because of threat. So chairman, that is why we are here. We want your assurances that from now on, you will do what is necessary for you to do to ensure that at least our people have security.”

The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) in a statement on Saturday asked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to intervene to ensure immediate release of the Chief and his pregnant wife.

“We call on the IG to use his office to intervene and ensure immediate release if the Chief and his pregnant wife,” the statement signed by the group’s Assistant General Secretary, Taiwo Adeleye stated.

The NHRC is a coalition of 135 community bases groups and civil society organisations