Residents of Ihunmudumu, a community in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, have been thrown into fear following the abduction of three young men by suspected kidnappers.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, December 1, 2025, around 6 p.m., when armed men stormed a residential hostel and whisked away the victims into the nearby bush. Two of those abducted are said to be students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, heightening concerns among the academic community.
Eyewitnesses described the attack as sudden and terrifying. A resident, identified as Ose Ojo, recounted how his elder brother and two others were taken at gunpoint. According to him, the assailants struck just as one of the occupants drove into the compound.
“As I was about to open the backdoor for a generator repairer, I heard shouts of ‘kidnappers’ from inside the compound. Turning around, I saw one of the gunmen trailing an occupant who had just driven in. Moments later, three more armed men appeared. They seized my brother and another resident. I had no choice but to jump the fence to escape,” Ojo narrated.
The father of one of the victims, Mr. Ojo, made a passionate appeal to the Edo State Government and security agencies to intervene swiftly. “I cannot bear the pain of knowing my son has been taken to an unknown destination. The thought of him being harmed is unbearable,” he lamented.
While the motive behind the abduction remains unclear, a community source suggested it may be connected to disputes over the sharing of fraudulent proceeds. As of now, the kidnappers have not made contact or issued any ransom demands.
When approached for comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, stated that he had not yet received official details of the incident.
The development has sparked widespread panic in Ekpoma, with residents calling for urgent government action to curb the rising wave of insecurity in the area.