In two separate attacks on February 8, 2026, gunmen abducted five individuals in the Akoko Edo region of Edo State, including a high-ranking police officer.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Bode Ekundayo, the National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, the first incident occurred at the Makeke community health centre. During this raid, the kidnappers seized Tope Oriloye, a secondary school student, and Samuel Ilesanmi, who had gone to the facility to seek medical care for his son.
In a second, simultaneous operation in the area, a gang stormed the residence of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa. The attackers initially abducted the Inspector along with his wife and daughter; however, they later released his wife with instructions to secure a ransom for the release of her husband and child.
According to Bode Ekundayo, the kidnappers launched a bold raid on Makeke village—located just a kilometer from Ososo—where they seized Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi at the local health center on February 8. In a parallel attack in Auchi, gunmen stormed the home of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa, an indigene of Uma/Imoga. While they initially took the Inspector along with his wife and daughter, his wife was eventually released with a mandate to raise a ransom for the safety of her family.
In response to the abductions at the health center, local hunters and vigilantes from Makeke immediately launched a search operation, scouring the surrounding wilderness until the following morning. Despite their extensive efforts, the victims remained missing. By the evening of February 9, the kidnappers established contact, demanding a ₦100 million ransom for the release of Oriloye and Ilesanmi.
Ekundayo reported that by the evening of February 9, the kidnappers had established contact, demanding a ₦100 million ransom for the release of Tope Oriloye and Samuel Ilesanmi. He noted that this specific figure has become a frustratingly common starting point for negotiations in recent regional abductions.
Urging the Edo State and Akoko Edo Local Governments to take immediate action, Ekundayo warned that the region is effectively “surrounded.” He argued that the vast, unpoliced wilderness of Akoko Edo is being used as a gateway by armed groups migrating from Benue and Kwara States, creating a security crisis that could soon become uncontrollable.
The Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the Makeke incident and stated that several suspects are already in custody. She added that while investigations continue to track down other members of the gang, tactical teams are actively working to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
Police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem officially confirmed the abduction in Makeke, stating that several suspects are currently in custody as tactical teams work to rescue the victims. This latest incident follows a pattern of rising insecurity in the region, including a major kidnapping on January 9, 2026. In that case, seven individuals—including a hotelier and his guests—were seized from the Stay Boy Hotel along the Imoga-Ibillo road.
During the January crisis, the kidnappers followed a similar blueprint, initially demanding ₦100 million before gradually lowering their price to ₦70 million and eventually ₦40 million. Despite issuing death threats on January 16 to expedite the process, the gang ultimately released the victims after an undisclosed ransom was paid.
