A young girl identified as Wahab Aisha has been kidnapped by gunmen at Igbira Camp in Auchi, Edo State, plunging her family and community into distress.
A video circulating on social media shows the visibly distressed girl pleading for public help to secure her freedom.
The abduction, which occurred last Saturday, has sparked outrage across the state as kidnappers demand ₦20 million for her release.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the kidnappers contacted the victim’s family shortly after the abduction, insisting on full payment before her release.
Residents of the community expressed anger over the government’s silence, accusing authorities of abandoning their constitutional duty to protect lives and property.
Several locals described the growing wave of kidnappings across Edo as a “lucrative business” that thrives under the state’s weak security response.
One resident, who spoke anonymously, said Edo State was fast turning into the “heartbeat of kidnapping” under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s watch.
He recalled multiple unresolved abductions, including the kidnapping of two seminarians in July 2025 at the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianakpodi, Auchi.
During that attack, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was killed, and despite ransom payments reportedly made by the Catholic Church, the victims have not been freed.
Residents also faulted security agencies in Edo State for prioritising the arrest of activists and journalists while failing to pursue violent criminals.
“They are quick to track human rights activists who criticise the government,” a community leader lamented. “But they can’t trace kidnappers who terrorise citizens daily.”
Public confidence in the security system continues to decline as the frequency of abductions grows in both rural and urban parts of the state.
Many residents have now called on Governor Okpebholo, who doubles as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to take immediate and decisive action.
They urged him to strengthen security coordination, equip local police divisions, and enhance community intelligence to curb rising insecurity.
Meanwhile, families of victims remain helpless as ransom demands climb, while kidnappers continue to operate freely across Edo’s highways and farmlands.
Security experts warn that the growing trend could damage investor confidence and worsen poverty levels in Edo if not urgently addressed.
The Edo State government has yet to issue an official statement on Aisha’s abduction or the rising insecurity crisis.
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