Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have abducted His Royal Highness Friday Ehizojie, the traditional ruler (Onogie) of Udo-Eguare, in Igweben Local Government Area of Edo State.
The monarch was travelling on a commercial motorbike when he was ambushed by armed men at a forest between Ubiaha, Roadhouse junction and Udo village.
The gunmen shot dead the driver and took the traditional ruler to an unknown location.
The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Mr Moses Yamu, confirmed the kidnapping in a statement on Monday, February 3, 2025.
The PPRO said the command received a report that the Onogie of Udo-Eguare and several others, including a 21-year-old man, had unfortunately been kidnapped.
“He was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle along a lonely path leading to the Community where they were ambushed by unknown persons, in the process the Okada rider was shot dead before the Onogie was abducted,” Yamu stated.
He said regional police chief Betty Otimenin had ordered the immediate deployment of a police tactical response team, including the mobile police force, to the scene to ensure the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators.
The spokesman noted that the regional commander was personally at the scene and was leading the operation under the instructions of the police chief.