Festus Edughele, a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, was taken hostage by armed suspects in Ubiaja on Monday morning as he travelled from Orhionmwon to Benin City, the state capital.
This occurs three days after 32 people were abducted by alleged herdsmen on Saturday night as they waited to board a train from the Igueben station in the state’s Igueben Local Government Area to Warri in Delta State.
According to reports, Edughele was on his way to Benin to catch a flight to Abuja when he was kidnapped by the gunmen and taken into the forest.
A former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Festus Ebea, who confirmed the incident, said his former colleague intended to board the now suspended train service from Ubiaja to Abuja.
Ebea said, “He was kidnapped this morning in Ubiaja on his way from Orhionmwon to Benin. He had intended to take the train for Ubiaja but he could not do so since the train services had been suspended.
“The family is aware of his kidnap, the police division in that area has been informed and we hope action will be taken to rescue him,” he added.
