The Edo State government reported that 12 victims of the attack on the Igueben Train Station in the state, who had been held captive for a week, were freed on Saturday night by Special Forces, which included members of the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Services, local vigilantes, hunters, and other security organisations.
Speaking to reporters shortly after visiting the freed kidnap victims at the Police Cottage Hospital in Benin City, the state’s capital, Governor Godwin Obaseki criticised the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) for failing to provide adequate security in its facilities following the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna Train on March 28, 2022, even as he threatened to punish the traditional leaders in the Igueben area who were still leasing their lands to herdsmen for grazing.
The governor claimed that no money was exchanged in exchange for the victims’ release, but that the Special Forces moved in and subdued the captors, who fled with the other two victims, who were reportedly NRC employees.
“We thank God; we are grateful that we have been able to obtain the release of nearly all the persons that were kidnapped from the Igueben Train Station in Edo State about a week ago,” Obaseki stated.
We never prayed for this hard experience, and we sincerely hope it won’t happen again. We are extremely happy that the security system has held up under pressure after they put our system through its paces. We were able to track the kidnappers over the course of the past week, contain them to specific locations where they were unable to escape, and with the help of all available intelligence, aerial support from the Air Force and the Police, drone support, and technological support, we were able to track them. Thanks to the training of our Special Forces and the other team members, we were able to free 12 out of the 14 hostages.
“We believe it is cause for celebration, and we believe we should show our gratitude and appreciation to the members of our security forces.” The sacrifice they made, as well as the long days and sleepless nights, are to be applauded. We have reason to celebrate and give thanks to our security services on this Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
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“We will continue to invest in the state’s security system, we will continue to promote our security forces’ cooperation, and we will ensure that we continue to invest in the necessary technology and equipment to stop this kind of incident,” the statement reads.
The governor expressed dissatisfaction with the NRC’s leadership, saying: “After the Kaduna event, you would have anticipated that they would secure their facilities better, so for six men to have entered their facility to kidnap almost 30 people, I think it is something that needs to be probed.”
“It speaks poorly of their ability to manage an effective rail system in this nation, and it undermines Nigerians’ faith in the safety of that method of transportation.” After what occurred in Kaduna, you can’t tell me that there was only one police officer with a weapon manning a facility like the Igueben station. If that agency is competent, they should look into what happened and make sure that it never happens to any Nigerian anywhere in the nation.
“I have ordered that those traditional rulers be investigated, and anyone found to be harbouring people they should not harbor,” Obaseki said of the local traditional institution.We have information that some traditional rulers in that area are not respecting the government’s decision to make sure that grazing opportunities are not given to herders in their forests.
Muhammed Dankwara, the state’s commissioner of police, commented on how the victims were freed and noted that no one was hurt while those thought to be involved in the kidnapping have been detained.
They were found in the woodlands of Ugboha and Udo. The security forces have been stationed there for a week, and it was there that they caught those individuals because, according to the intelligence gathered, they were seen wandering around the area yesterday evening. As they attempted to move the individuals from one location to another, the security forces set up an ambush and caught them in the process.
“With regard to the two captives that remain, we are making headway and will make sure they are also liberated.” There have been no casualties until date; however, we have made arrests and have members of the syndicate who carried out this act with us, according to the CP.
He listed Eunice Eseba, Marian Mowoe, Faith Smart, Precious Egwuje, Obehi Omaben, Amm Benson, Favour Akungo, Akhimen Ehiemamen, Emmanuel Esieba, Iyoha Julius, and Aguelle Beatrice as the names of the abduction victims who had been freed.
