A man kidnapped alongside his pregnant wife in Aviele community, near Auchi in Edo State, has issued a desperate appeal for help after their abductors threatened to sexually assault his wife unless a N50 million ransom is paid.
In a video circulating online on Thursday, the visibly distressed victim pleaded with authorities and the public for urgent assistance. He said their family had only managed to raise N7 million, far below the kidnappers’ demand.
“Please, we are begging for help. My wife is pregnant, and they are threatening to violate her. Our family can only raise N7 million out of the N50 million ransom,” he said in pidgin English.
A relative who also spoke in the video explained that the couple was abducted on Wednesday night while returning home. He claimed witnesses saw armed men, suspected to be herders, force the victims into the bush.
Civic tech platform MonITNG condemned the abduction and raised alarm over the rising wave of kidnappings across Edo communities. The group said insecurity on rural routes and forest corridors had made residents fearful, warning that “Edo people can no longer sleep with both eyes closed.”
The platform urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to deploy more security personnel and intensify operations in forested areas to dislodge criminal gangs. It also called on the police, military, DSS and other security agencies to intervene immediately.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu confirmed on Thursday that the kidnappers sent a video to the family, repeating their N50 million demand. He appealed to both the federal and state governments to act swiftly to protect communities affected by recurring attacks.
