A Coalition of civil rights organisations, yesterday, urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure swift release of the abducted wife of Mutairu Kabiru Igene, a traditional leader in Agbede, a community in Edo State.
In a petition to the IGP, signed by Adeleye Taiwo, the coalition expressed deep concerns over the incident. It called on the police hierarchy to deploy a specialised team to rescue the pregnant wife and bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to the petition, the incident occurred while Igene and the wife, Mujanetu, were harvesting yams on their farm, on February 28.
“Armed men, believed to be of Fulani descent, launched an attack, attempting to abduct the couple. But Igene resisted the assailants and suffered severe injuries in the process. He was discovered in the bush the following morning and rushed to a private hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit. However, Mujanetu was held captive, enduring torture and humiliation,” the petition reads.
Taiwo said time is of the essence because the pregnant woman lacks access to medical care, posing a significant risk to herself and the unborn. “The pregnant woman is naturally in a state of vulnerability and weakness. Being abducted and forced to trek for several kilometres in the bush, while her husband is hospitalised, is the epitome of cruelty. We urge you to prioritise the release of Igene and his wife,” he said.
The Guardian learned the armed men are demanding a N20 million ransom for the release of the woman.
The community members have long faced threats from herders and armed men, resulting in the destruction of their crops and harm to loved ones.
The coalition noted that incidents of kidnapping in the Agbede region have reached a critical level, prompting residents to abandon ancestral farmlands, amid threat to food security and livelihoods.
