The family of five abducted by gunmen on November 1, 2025, at Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, have regained their freedom after allegedly paying a N15 million ransom.
DAILY POST gathered that the victims, all members of the Bello family, were kidnapped while working on their farm.
The victims, aged between 10 and 25, were identified as Nurudeen Bello, Waheed Bello, Haruna Bello, Usena Bello, and Matilda Bello.
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “They (victims) went to the farm to do some work. The gunmen stormed the farm while they were working, kidnapped and took them into the bush.”
He added that the kidnappers initially demanded N100 million but reduced it to N15 million on November 6.
“The ransom was, however, paid on Friday, November 7, and they were released on Saturday morning, November 8, 2025. The kidnappers also demanded other items such as food, drinks and hard drugs worth N300,000,” he alleged.
The source, however, said he was unaware whether the incident was reported to the police.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the command was not aware of the incident, as it was not reported.
