Police officer killed, as abducted Igueben Customary Court President rescued alive
President of the Igueben Local Government Area Customary Court in Edo State, Mrs Precious Aigbonoga, who was abducted by gunmen, last Monday, has been rescued alive.
The magistrate, however, sustained gunshot injuries in the process of her rescue by a combined team of military and policemen units deployed in the operation, Thursday.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the rescue of the court president, however, also disclosed that the Command lost an officer in the operation, who died from shots by the abductors.
Mrs Aigbonoga was reportedly abducted by the gunmen, around Ugoneki axis, on her way to court in the Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State, last Monday.
The abduction came on the heels of last Saturday’s abduction of 32 (later 31) passengers waiting to board a train at the Ekehen Station in the Igueben LGA of the state to Warri in Delta, by suspected herdsmen.
The kidnapped court’s president is the wife of Mr Afebu Aigbonoga, a PDP House of Assembly candidate for Etsako West Constituency 1.
It would also be recalled that a former Edo State House of Assembly member, Festus Edughele was kidnapped on Monday by suspected gunmen in Ubiaja, on his way from Orhionmwon LGA to Benin.
A former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Festus Ebea, who confirmed the incident, said his former colleague intended to board the now suspended train service from Ubiaja to Abuja.
Ebea said, “he was kidnapped this morning in Ubiaja on his way from Orhionmwon to Benin.
“He had intended to take the train for Ubiaja but he could not do so since the train services had been suspended.
“The family is aware of his kidnap, the police division in that area has been informed and we hope action will be taken to rescue him,” he added.
Mrs Aigbonoga’s rescue operation was carried out by a team of soldiers and policemen, who stormed the forest where she was held, as the abductors were waiting for ransom money.
According to a family source, Aigbonoga was taken to an undisclosed hospital receiving treatment for gunshot injuries, but ‘has reunited with her family. She was shot by the kidnappers.’
