By Editor
A group through its petitioner, Adeleye Taiwo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to expedite action to rescue the pregnant wife of a traditional ruler in Agbede, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, from the kidnappers den.
In a petition to the IGP, the petitioner said that the incident is disheartening.
The group called on the police to deploy a specialized team to rescue the pregnant wife of Chief Alh. Mutairu Kabiru Igene, also known as Amari, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The petitioner narrated that the incident occured while Chief Mutairu Igene and his pregnant wife, Mrs. Mujanetu Kabiru Igene, were working on their farm on February 28, 2024.
It was said that the armed men said to be of Fulani herdsmen launched a sudden attack, attempting to abduct the couple. Chief Mutairu Igene valiantly resisted the assailants but suffered severe injuries in the process.
Left wounded and unconscious, he was discovered in the bush the following morning and rushed to a private hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit.
However, his pregnant wife, Mujanetu Igene, was not that lucky as remains captive under deplorable conditions, enduring torture and humiliation.
Taiwo reiterated that time is of the essence as the pregnant woman lacks access to medical care, posing a significant risk to both her and her unborn child(ren).
“The pregnant woman is naturally in a state of vulnerability and weakness. Being abducted and forced to trek for several kilometers in the wilderness with her Chief husband hospitalized is the epitome of cruelty.
“We urge you to prioritize the release of the Chief and his wife”, Taiwo said.
It was gathered that the kidnappers are asking for N20 million for ransom before she could be released.
The community has long faced threats from Fulani herds and armed men, resulting in the destruction of their crops and harm to their loved ones.
The group noted that incidents of kidnapping in the Agbede region have reached a critical level, prompting many to abandon ancestral farmlands, which threatens food security and livelihoods.
It further said that failure to quickly release the traditional ruler’s pregnant wife, it could lead to further protests in the community.