Security operatives in Edo State have rescued a 70-year-old farmer, Pa Jonah Owobu, after he was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Uromi.
According to reports, the victim went missing on April 20, 2026, after he failed to return home from his farm. His wife later reported the case to the police on April 21, stating that the family had received a ransom demand of ₦30 million from the abductors.
The spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that a joint rescue team was immediately deployed after the report. The team included police officers, military personnel, local hunters, and members of the Edo State Security Corps.
During the search operation, the team discovered the victim’s abandoned motorcycle and other personal items along a forest path, which helped them track the kidnappers’ movement deeper into the bush.
Ikoedem said the operatives eventually located the suspected hideout, but the kidnappers fled upon sighting the security team, abandoning the victim.
The farmer was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with his family.
She added that a manhunt is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, while bush-combing operations have been intensified in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and urged residents to continue providing timely and useful information to security agencies.
