Edo: Gunmen Abduct Female Footballers; Demand N30 Million Ransom

By Akinwale Kasali

The fate of six female footballers and officials of a Grassroot Team in Orhionmwon,  Edo State, is uncertain. Gunmen abducted these ladies to yet to be known destination.

The sad incident took place at Uronigbe, a border community between Edo and Delta states in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. They are demanding  a whopping sum of N30 million as ransom for the release of the players and the officials.

The abduction happened at about 6pm on Friday while they were returning from a game at Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The abductors has contacted some families demanding a ransom of N5m each for the victims.

According to a source, “They (footballers) went to Owa-Alero to play football match so, on their way back, they were kidnapped at Uronigbe area, the boundary between Delta and Edo State”.

The kidnapped victims are;  Precious Agbajor, Abraham, Nancy, Beatrice, the driver and one other person. They are six in number that are in the kidnapper’s den.

The matter has been reported to the Uronigbe police station.

“The kidnappers have contacted the family of Agbajor and asked them to pay N5 million for his wife.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in Delta state, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the kidnapping incident, adding that it happened in Edo State.

His Edo state counterpart, Chidi Nwabuzor, said from the record available at the State Command, there is no information about the incident.

“You know we transmit our records to Force Headquarters every day. There is no such record before us. From the command’s record, no such incident happened yesterday (Friday) so the police will not give an account of anything unreported.

“It is only when an incident is reported that the police can act on it. In most cases, citizens are not aware of the powers to report incidents. So the record I have from the command is that no such incident happened yesterday (Friday), today (Saturday), and even the day before yesterday (Thursday).’