Security forces on a special operation in Igueben have rescued another victim of train station attack recorded at Igueben in Igueben local government area of Edo State.
The latest rescued victim brings to seven the number of the kidnapped train passengers so far taken off the hook of the gunmen since the unfortunate incident on Saturday, January 7, 2023.
The Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command SP Chidi Nwabuzor stated this when our reporter visited his office Wednesday afternoon for an update of the rescue operation.
“The good news now is that another woman has been rescued yesterday, (Tuesday, January 10, 2023), making a total of seven victims rescued so far,” SP Nwabuzor said.
He did not give further information as to whether ransom has been demanded by the gunmen or not.
It will be recalled that the Edo State government had through the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, announced last Monday that six of the 31 passengers kidnapped at the Igueben train sub station have been rescued unhurt amid intensified bush combing by special security forces.
Nehikhare gave the identities of those rescued as a 65-year-old man; a nursing mother and her baby; a six-year-old girl and two siblings – a boy and a girl aged between two and five years old.
He said they were rescued in the last 24 hours by security forces carrying out a special operations in Igueben and its environs.
“I want to reassure Edo people and families of the victims that the government is taking this matter seriously, ensuring that the state is safe for Edo people.
“We are asking for information that will lead to the arrest of other kidnappers. Two other suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the kidnapping in Edo Central as they were formally declared wanted by the police. They are in custody helping the police with relevant information that will lead to the arrest of other members of the gang.
“This is a sensitive matter and we need to keep the press and the people abreast of the current situation. I get clearance from security agencies before briefing the press on this issue so as not to compromise their investigation. I’m also appealing to Edo people to help with information that will unravel this kidnap incident.
“We have cordoned off a huge part of the forest as no one knows the forest better than our hunters and security agencies. The bush combing operation is ongoing and I am confident that very soon all those kidnapped will be rescued”, the commissioner assured.
He added that two more suspects on police wanted list have been arrested.
