Edo State brothers escape kidnappers after abduction
Two brothers from the Uma/Imoga community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, identified as Isaac Olayere and Victor Olayere, have escaped from their kidnappers after being held captive in a forest hideout.
The abduction occurred on November 8, 2025, along the Adughe–Imoga Road. The kidnappers later demanded a ransom of ₦22 million from the family. According to the community monarch, Oba Patrick Obajoye (Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom), the brothers managed to escape when the kidnappers fell asleep in the forest.
After escaping, the brothers reportedly used an unknown phone number to call their father and inform him of their freedom. Their escape was aided by vigilantes from Adughe, a neighbouring community in Kogi State, who alerted the Imoga youths, though the kidnappers had already fled the scene by the time assistance arrived.
The incident has prompted fresh calls from the community for enhanced security presence in the area. Oba Obajoye noted that Imoga is vulnerable to criminal activity, being a border town adjacent to Ondo and Kogi states, and urged the establishment of a police post in the area for regular patrols and greater safety assurance.
