By Suleiman Anyalewechi
More than two weeks after an Edo State based Medical Doctor, and his younger brother, also a Medical Doctor were kidnapped, the older Medical Doctor has finally been released. But his release came at a huge price. His Medical Doctor- younger brother with whom he was kidnapped, was brutally murdered, while his release came after a ransom to the tune of N50 million was paid in two tranches of N30m and N20m apiece.
The Source reports that Dr Babatunde Tahir of the Edo State University Teaching Hospital Iyambo, and his younger sibling, Abu Tahir a fresh medical doctor graduate from the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, were abducted in Auchi town on January 1,2026.
They were, according to reports, kidnapped at the entrance of their residence at Igbira Camp, Auchi, a few minutes after returning home from the day’s work .
From initiatially demanding a whopping sum of N200 million as ransom, their captors came down to about N40 million after the tragic death of one of abducted victims,the younger sibling.
His corpse was later recovered by security personnel near a river after he had been brutally murdered. The sad development forced the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, to declare an industrial action on Wednesday January 14, 2026.
The NMA warned that all medical services by its members would be withdrawn pending the release of Dr Babatunde from the abductors’ den .
The umbrella body of medical practitioners in Edo state expressed serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in the state with a terrifying upsurge in cases of abduction of innocent residents.
“Our member who was abducted in Auchi must be released unhurt. Until that is achieved, the ongoing strike action will continue”, Edo state NMA stated.
But, a viral video in circulation on Thursday January 15, indicated that Dr Babatunde was rescued by a combined team of local vigilante operatives and hunters during a concerted operation at about 8pm on Wednesday in an unnamed forest .
The footage of the video and a narrator’s account also showed that one of the kidnappers was killed by the rescue team during the assault on the abductors hideout.
However ,Dr Babatunde, who was seen in the video being helped into a security van, allegedly, sustained a gunshot injury.
The Chairman of the Edo State Chapter of NMA, while confirming the rescue of Dr Babatunde , informed that the leadership of the body will react officially in due course .
The Edo State Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem, while also confirming the development, added that Babatunde has been reunited with his family.
The Doctor’s father who confirmed the release said it was effected after the payment of N50 million to his abductors.
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