Residents of Edo State are reeling from a fresh wave of criminal activity following the abduction of eight individuals from a local hotel. The incident, which occurred on Friday night, has sparked renewed fears about security in the region.
Details of the Imoga Community Abduction
On the night of Friday, January 13, 2026, gunmen stormed the Star Boy Hotel located on the Imoga-Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. The eight victims, who are all indigenes of Imoga community, had attended a function in Ibillo and decided to lodge at the hotel for the night. The hotel is reportedly owned by a fellow community member.
According to the traditional ruler, the Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye, the kidnappers arrived at the hotel dressed in army uniforms. They initially pretended to be customers, buying drinks and waiting for someone. After a period, they accosted the hotel owner, seized his two mobile phones, and proceeded to do the same to the other guests.
The assailants then tied the hands of their victims and marched them into the nearby bush on foot. One person sustained a gunshot wound while attempting to escape and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Ransom Negotiations and Community Anguish
The kidnappers have made a hefty financial demand for the release of the captives. They initially demanded a ransom of N100 million but later reduced it to N70 million after negotiations. Oba Obajoye revealed that when the community begged for a further reduction, the gunmen suggested that one of the hotel owner's vehicles should be sold to raise part of the money.
"Eight of them, including one woman, are in the kidnappers’ den," the monarch stated. "The kidnapping looked like an insider job, if one considers the way the gunmen spoke to those negotiating the ransom. It is a very sad day for us in our community and we hope that this will end well for our indigenes. However, raising this money is a big task."
The traditional ruler did, however, commend the efforts of the Edo State Police Command and the state government in working towards the rescue of the abducted persons. The Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, was contacted for comment but requested more time to respond at the time the report was filed.
PDP Condemns Kidnapping, Demands Release of Protesters
In a related development, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a strong statement concerning security in the state. The party is demanding the immediate release of 52 suspects, mostly students, who were remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre. They were arrested for participating in a protest against kidnapping in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Council, which allegedly turned violent.
The Edo State Criminal Court II in Benin City had declined jurisdiction over their case. In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the PDP alleged that the arrest and remand were orchestrated by the state's All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
The party accused the government of abandoning Ekpoma to kidnappers and violent criminals, leaving residents to live in constant fear as attacks escalate. Osa-Ogbegie stated the PDP's unequivocal opposition to kidnapping and killings and demanded the dismantling of criminal networks operating freely in Ekpoma and neighbouring communities.
These twin events highlight the ongoing security challenges facing parts of Edo State, with communities caught between the terror of kidnappers and the complexities of the political response to the crisis.
