In a horrifying attack that has sent shockwaves through the Evboneka community, terrorists abducted nine members of the same family along the Benin-Akure Expressway, including five young schoolchildren, a nursing mother with her infant baby, and other relatives.
The incident occurred on Monday when the victims were reportedly traveling or moving within the Eko-Abeku-Iyowa axis of Evboneka community, a notorious hotspot for abductions along this busy federal highway.
According to community sources and police confirmation, the terrorists stormed the area heavily armed and forcefully took the entire group hostage.
They later contacted family members and community leaders, demanding the staggering sum of ₦260 million as ransom for the safe release of all nine captives.
In a swift response that prevented an even worse tragedy, officers from the Ekiadolor Division of the Edo State Police Command, supported by local vigilante groups and personnel from a nearby Mobile Police squadron, launched an immediate rescue operation.
A fierce gun battle ensued between the security forces and the terrorists.
The intense shootout forced the abductors to abandon some of their captives.
Five victims were successfully rescued unharmed — including the nursing mother and her baby, along with three preschool-aged children who were among the abducted schoolchildren.
Four family members, however, remain in the hands of the terrorists, who fled into nearby bushes with their remaining hostages.
Security operatives are actively pursuing the perpetrators and working to secure the release of the others without further harm.
This latest outrage underscores the persistent and escalating threat of terrorism along Edo State’s major highways, particularly the Benin-Akure corridor, where terrorists have repeatedly targeted commuters, travelers, and local residents for abduction and extortion.
Community leaders in Evboneka and surrounding areas have expressed deep outrage and renewed calls for stronger federal and state security deployments, including sustained patrols, intelligence-led operations, and the establishment of more permanent checkpoints and rapid-response units.
Edo State Police Command spokesperson Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident and the partial rescue, assuring the public that efforts are intensified to apprehend the terrorists and reunite the remaining victims with their families.
As of press time, no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, but the tactics — mass family abduction, inclusion of very young children and infants, and exorbitant ransom demands — mirror patterns seen in other parts of the country where terrorist groups operate for profit and intimidation.
Residents along the Benin-Akure road have been urged to exercise extreme caution, travel in convoys where possible, and promptly report any suspicious movements to security agencies.
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The abduction of an entire family unit, especially involving school-age children and a mother with her baby, has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed national attention to the deteriorating security situation in parts of southern Nigeria.
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