Twelve more victims of the Igueben Train Station kidnap have been rescued by a special force comprising soldiers, policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), local vigilance members and hunters, among others.
They are Eunice Eseba, Marian Mowoe, Faith Smart, Precious Egwuje, Obehi Omaben, Amm Benson, Favour Akungo, Akhimen Ehiemamen, Emmanuel Esieba, Iyoha Julius and Aguelle Beatrice.
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed this on Sunday after visiting the rescued victims at the Police Cottage Hospital in Benin. According to him, the 12 were rescued Saturday night.
Obaseki also berated authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) for not providing enough security in its facilities, after the Kaduna train kidnap of March 28, 2022. He also threated to sanction traditional rulers in the area who were still giving their lands to herdsmen.
The governor also maintained that no ransom was paid for the victims’ release, saying the special force went in and overpowered the kidnappers ‘who ran away with the remaining two victims who were workers of the NRC’.
The victims were seized on January 7 at the Tom Ikimi/Ekehen station at Igueben, headquarters of Igueben Local Government Area of the state, Edo Central, while waiting to board a train to Warri, Delta State.
Commissioner of Police Muhammed Dankwara, who stressed that no casualty was recorded in the operation, added: “The victims were rescued from Ugboha and Udo forests. The security forces have been there for a week and it was there they intercepted the kidnappers while trying to move the people from one area to another.
“For the remaining two captives, we are making progress and we will ensure they are released too. So far no casualty, they escaped but we have made arrests, we have people with us who are part of the syndicate that did this thing.”