By DADA AYOKHAI
After 4 days in the forests of Igueben, and probably subjected to all manners of ill-treatment by her callous abductors, Mrs. Precious Aigbonoga, has finally regained her freedom.
Her freedom threw the bustling commercial town of us Jattu, Etsako West council area, into a joyous mood, as members of the Aigbonoga family and the entire community rejoiced over her rescue from the hands of her captors.
Mrs. Aigbonoga is the wife of Bar Afebu Aigbonoga, the leading PDP candidate for the Edo State House of Assembly election to represent Etsako West Constituency 2.
An elated husband , Bar Aigbonoga in a telephone chat with borderlinenews24 expressed appreciation to God for the freedom.
Mrs. Aigbonoga is the president of the Igueben Area Customary Court. She was “captured” by her abductors on Monday, January 2, 2023, around the Ugoneki axis, Igueben local government area, while making her way to her workplace
There is yet no official confirmation if the ransom was paid to her abductors before the release.
However, a statement pushed out by the Edo State Police Command, via its spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, threw more light on the special operation launched by the security agencies leading to the rescuing of Mrs. Aigbonoga.
Mr Nwabuzor stated that a combined team of the Police and the military launched a special operation during which they raided the kidnapper’s den on Thursday, January 12.
He added that the Customary Court President was eventually rescued at a place called “Scorpion hill”, inside the forest where she was held captive.
A police officer was reportedly killed in the fierce exchange between the abductor and the special forces.
It was also reliable gathered that Mrs. Aigbonoga was shot at the back by her abductors in the process of rescue and presently recuperating at an undisclosed hospital.
Reacting to the rescue, the Benin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, commended the security agencies for their prompt intervention which led to her rescue.
In the statement signed by Bar Festus Usiobaifo, the Publicity Secretary of the body on behalf of the state chairman, Bar Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie, the NBA commiserated with the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara, on the loss of one of his gallant officers.
The statement also saluted Nigerians for rising in unison to condemn the nefarious act of the kidnappers while also thanking the members of the bench and the bar for standing by the family during the ordeal
The abduction of the Customary Court President sent shock waves in the Edo central district, especially at a time when it is believed that the level of kidnapping was at its lowest ebb due to the concerted efforts of the leaders in the district and the Edo state government in to strengthen community policing as well providing the needed security gadgets to boost the morale of the various local vigilantes in tackling kidnapping and other criminal adventures in the.area.
