Two traditional rulers and five other persons have been arrested in connection with the recent Edo Train Station attack
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Edo State government has said that two traditional rulers and five other persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of 20 passengers from Igueben train station in Edo state on January 7.
The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin while briefing journalists shortly after the state executive council meeting.
“The success story in the kidnapping is that seven persons and two village chiefs have been arrested in connection with the incident.
He added that two persons remaining in captivity of the kidnappers had been rescued by security agencies.
The station came under attack on Saturday, January 7 and scores of passengers waiting to board a train from Igueben in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped.
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The exact number of those abducted was not immediately ascertained. Eyewitnesses however said they were many. The number was eventually put at 32. Many of the travellers were also injured in the ensuing melee. However, the police arrested some of the abductors during the operation.
Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the incident when it occurred.
The kidnapped passengers were later released in piecemeal by their abductors. In sympathy, the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki paid a visit to 12 persons who were rescued subsequently.
Obaseki assured them during his visit to the victims at the Police Cottage Hospital in GRA, Benin City that his administration would leave no stone unturned in securing the release of the two remaining hostages.
The governor hailed the crack team made up of various security agencies in the state, including hunters and members of the Edo State Security Network.
He noted that their gallantry and tactfulness proved instrumental to the success recorded.
Obaseki called on relevant authorities to investigate the negligence of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) which led to the kidnap attack at the Igueben train station in Igueben Local Government Area.
According to him, “How will the corporation deploy just one policeman to guard the Igueben train station after recording a kidnap incident in Kaduna?
