By Olaitan Ibrahim
A middle-aged man identified as Pius Friday, has been reportedly shot dead by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in Edo State.
The gunmen also abducted the victim’s pregnant wife and her sister.
The incident occurred on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Uloke community, Uzairue, Etsako West local government of the State.
The victim was said to be sleeping at about 1 am when the gunmen invaded his house, killed the deceased before kidnaping his family members and whisked them into the bush.
A source disclosed that the kidnappers left behind the deceased’s three children crying in the pool of their father’s blood.
“People heard gunshots around the deceased’s house but were scared to come out. When people finally came after the gunshots subsided, the man was found dead in his own pool of blood.
“The killers took his wife and her sister into the bush and are yet to be found. At this moment, the pregnant woman and her sister have not been found,” he said.
“The Command is aware and necessary deployment have been made in that regards. Our men have sustained bush combing/rescue operation with a view to rescue the victims,” he said.
Meanwhile, women in the community took to the streets in protest of the killing of Pius and the kidnapping of his wife and her sisters.
One of the protesters who identified herself simply as Rashidetu, in a viral video, lamented the long absence security in the Uluoke community.
“We are protesting not only the death of the young man and the kidnapping of his wife and her sister, but we are also the long absence security in the Uluoke community.
Rashidetu said that they can longer go to their farms again, alleging that herdsmen have taken over the farms, uprooting cassava to feed cows, kidnapping women and killing anybody who try to stop them from destroying their farms.
She called on the government and security agents to come to the aid of the community as they can no longer go to their farms anymore.