UPDATE ON IGUEBEN TRAIN STATION ATTACK: Edo Joint Security Forces Rescue 12 Victims

By Simeon OSAJIE

In concerted efforts to rescue the abducted victims of Igueben Train Station attack, the Edo State joint security forces stormed Ugboha forest in a joint operation, through a technical intelligence provided the command and control intelligence rapid response squad and rescued twelve victims unhurt.

Ugboha forest is located in Esan South-East local government area of Edo State.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Dankwara made this known in a press briefing at the Police Clinic where some of the rescue victims are receiving treatment.

Recall that unspecified train passengers reportedly waiting to board at the train station in Igueben, Edo State, heading to Warri, Delta State were declared abducted by suspected herders.

The kidnappers who were said to be armed with sophisticated AK 47 riffles shot sporadically into the air before carrying out the attack, which allegedly left some persons sustaining bullet wounds.

According to CP Dankwara “on 14th January, at about 2200hrs, joint security forces in Edo State in concerted effort to rescue the abducted victims of Igueben Train station attack, stormed Ugboha forest in a joint operation, through a technical intelligence provided the command and control intelligence rapid response squad and rescued twelve victims unhurt.

“The twelve victims rescue are, Eunice Eseba ‘f’ 56yrs, Marian Mowoe ‘f’ age 28yrs, Faith Smart ‘f’ Aged 42 Yrs, Precious Egwuje ‘f’ age 28yrs, Obehi Omaben ‘f’ age 39yrs, Amm Benson ‘f’ age 42yrs, Favour Akungo ‘f’ age 18yrs and Akhimen Ehiemamen ‘m’ age 48yrs

Others are Christian Iyere ‘m’ age 33yrs, Emmanuel Esieba ‘m’ age 67yrs, lyoha Julius ‘m’ age 25yrs and Aguele Beatrice ‘f’ 42yrs.

CP Dankwara promised to rescue the remaining victim unhurt as soon as possible.

On his part, the Executive Governor of Edo State Mr. Godwin Obaseki who visited the rescued victims at the Police Cottage Hospital in GRA, Benin City, where they had been taken for tests and rehabilitation after the rescue operation hailed the crack team made up of various security agencies in the state, hunters and members of the Edo State Security Network, noting that their gallantry and tactfulness proved instrumental to the success recorded.

He assures families of the two remaining abductees that it will deploy the full apparatus of state to ensure their release and appeal to the train station authority to beef up security in all the train stations throughout the country so as to ensure no future occurrence.

He also reassures all residents that his government is committed to the protection of lives and property in Edo.