Benin City, Edo State, NIGERIA — The Edo State Police Command, led by CP Monday Agbonika, has successfully rescued 70-year-old Pa Jonah Owobu from a kidnappers’ den following a high-stakes search and rescue operation.
The victim, a resident of Uwalo Oke, Uromi, was safely recovered unhurt and has since been reunited with his family.
The ordeal began on April 20, 2026, when Pa Owobu failed to return from his farm.
Okay News gathered that his wife received a chilling phone call at 9:30 PM that same day, with unknown individuals demanding a ransom of ₦30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira) for his release. The report was formally lodged with the Amedokhian Divisional Police the following morning.
In a swift response, a joint tactical team—consisting of Police operatives, military personnel, local hunters, and members of the Edo State Security Corps—was mobilized to comb the surrounding forest. The discovery of the victim’s abandoned motorcycle and personal belongings served as a trail, leading the operatives deep into the bush.
Upon sighting the advancing security team, the suspected kidnappers fled into the dense vegetation, abandoning their victim to evade capture. ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, confirmed that intensive “bush combing” and a manhunt for the fleeing suspects remain ongoing.
CP Monday Agbonika reiterated the Command’s “unwavering commitment” to combating kidnapping in Edo State. He praised the synergy between the community-based local hunters and official security agencies, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to ensure sustained security across the state’s rural and urban corridors.
