This weekly update highlights kidnapping in the Niger Delta with a focus on the evolving threat of kidnapping for ransom in Edo State. According to data (see map below), over 70 incidents of kidnapping were reported in Edo State between January 2016 and May 2020. Recent data indicates that incidents of kidnapping are becoming more frequent and lethal in the State, especially the abduction of politicians for ransom. In April 2020, for instance, a Commissioner in the State was reportedly abducted by gunmen who also killed his two police orderlies along the Benin-Auchi Road, Ovia North-East LGA. On May 07, 2020, a 41-year old lawyer was reportedly abducted and killed by gunmen in Benin City, the State capital. Separately, on May 16, 2020, a prominent politician, who was a former Commissioner and local council chairman, was reportedly kidnapped and killed by gunmen in Utese village, Ovia North-East LGA. His corpse was found in a forest after a 5 million naira ransom was paid. More recently, on July 10, 2020, gunmen reportedly killed two policemen during a failed attempt to abduct a businessman in Benin City.
Loading...
Reload document 
Open in new tab
[wp_mb_plugin_download instance=”1″ password=”” buttonname=”Download” name=”Niger Delta Weekly Update – July 12-18-2020″ datetime=”July 16, 2020 – 8:57 pm” other=”v.1.7 (PIND)” atagseo=”tag”]https://pindfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Niger-Delta-Weekly-Update-July-12-18-2020.pdf[/wp_mb_plugin_download]
