THIS DAWN — Fear and outrage have gripped Edo State after a video surfaced online showing a young couple abducted from Aviele Community in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.
The kidnappers, who struck around 7–8 p.m., are demanding a ransom of ₦50 million, while the victims’ family has so far managed to raise only ₦7 million.
According to accounts shared in the video, the assailants stormed the couple’s residence, leaving behind footprints and escaping in a black SUV.
The victims have reportedly been beaten, denied food, and remain in captivity as negotiations continue.
The wife, identified as a Higher National Diploma (HND) student at Auchi Polytechnic and a fashion designer, is pregnant.
Appeals for donations
That detail underscores the human toll of the abduction and has heightened public concern.
Her husband was taken alongside her, with relatives describing the ordeal as “harrowing and unbearable.”
Family members have made public appeals for donations, sharing bank details in a desperate bid to meet the kidnappers’ demands.
They have also called on authorities, including the governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and the police, to intervene swiftly and secure the couple’s release.
The incident adds to the growing wave of abductions across Edo and neighboring states, where rural communities have increasingly become targets for criminal gangs.
Kidnappings getting more frequent
Residents say the rising frequency of kidnappings has disrupted daily life, instilled fear, and eroded confidence in security agencies.
Security analysts warn that the brazen nature of the Aviele abduction reflects broader challenges in Nigeria’s fight against banditry.
Worse yet, victims are often ordinary citizens with limited means to pay exorbitant ransoms.
The targeting of a pregnant woman has further fueled calls for urgent government action.
As the family awaits word on the fate of their loved ones, the case has become a rallying point for community members demanding stronger security measures and accountability.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement, but pressure is mounting for decisive intervention to prevent another tragedy in Edo State.
