At least eight persons, including the proprietor of Star Boy Hotel in Ibillo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Obaloju, were abducted at gunpoint on Friday night, January 9, 2026, when armed kidnappers stormed the facility in a brazen operation.
Witnesses said the assailants, believed to be a seven-man gang dressed in army uniforms, arrived at the hotel located on the outskirts of Ibillo town along the Uma/Imoga community road under the guise of guests.
They reportedly sat within the premises for some time, engaging in light entertainment, a move believed to have helped them allay suspicion.
However, at about 10:00 p.m., the attackers allegedly revealed their mission.
They moved from one room to another, harassing occupants and firing sporadically into the air to instill fear, before forcibly abducting guests, including the hotel owner.
The victims were said to have been marched into the surrounding bush under the cover of darkness, with their hands bound behind their backs.
Those kidnapped were identified as Mr. Lucky Obaloju, Mr. Happy Obanobi, Miss Hope Omo Ola, Mr. Jude Alabi, Wisdom Obalaja, Victory Adebayo, Roland Olutomi and Evela Afelemo.
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One of the guests, Mr. Taiye Olumowe, reportedly escaped during the attack despite sustaining a gunshot injury.
He has since been taken to an undisclosed location for medical treatment.
Community sources noted that most, if not all, of the abducted victims are natives of the Uma/Imoga community who frequently patronise the hotel, a detail that has deepened fears and speculation within the area.
The traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Oba PCM Abudu Obajuoye II, the Okpahi b’ Uma/Imoga (King of Uma Community), has formally reported the incident to the Ibillo Police Station. As of the time of filing this report, there had been no contact or ransom demand from the kidnappers.
Family members of the victims, alongside residents of Ibillo and Imoga communities, remain in a state of anxiety as they await news of the abductees’ whereabouts and safety.
The incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of kidnappings in Akoko-Edo, where rural dwellers have repeatedly fallen victim to abductions, often forced to pay heavy ransoms, with some reportedly losing their lives when demands are not met.
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Reacting to the development, the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People (MAAP) condemned the attack and described it as “one incident too many.”
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Bode Steve Ekundayo, the group called on indigenous communities, the Akoko-Edo Local Government authorities and the Edo State Government to take urgent and decisive steps to address what it described as the growing scourge of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping in the area.
MAAP also urged authorities to confront related challenges, including what it termed mindless open grazing, illegal occupation of farmlands and unauthorised mining activities, which it said have worsened insecurity and made life increasingly difficult for residents.
As investigations continue, residents are calling for increased security presence and swift action to secure the release of the abducted victims and prevent further attacks.