Gunmen abduct Edo customary court president

Precious Aigbonoga, president of the Igueben area customary court, has been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen.

Aigbonoga was said to have been abducted on Monday morning while going to the court in Igueben LGA of the state.

Festus Usiobaifo, publicity secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Edo, confirmed the abduction in a statement issued on Monday.

“The President of Igueben Area Customary Court, Mrs Precious Aigbonoga, was kidnapped on Monday morning around Ugoneki area, on her way to court in Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State,” the statement reads.

“She is the wife of our colleague, Mr Afebu Aigbonoga, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Etsako West Constituency 1.

“The Chairman of the Lion Bar, Chief Nosa Edo-Osagie, is deeply saddened by this news and condemns, in strong terms, the worrisome insensitivity of these bandits in kidnapping Mrs Precious Aigbonoga; an easygoing, gentle, and hardworking judicial officer.

“The executive of the NBA is in close touch with the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara.”

Aigbonoga’s abduction comes hours after Festus Edughele, a former lawmaker of the Edo house of assembly, was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen.

Edughele was said to have been abducted in Ubiaja.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Chidi Nwabuzor, police spokesperson in Edo, said he is yet to receive reports of the abductions from the police stations in the areas.

The development is the latest in a string of attacks in the south-south state.

On Saturday, gunmen kidnapped 30 passengers from a train station in Igueben LGA of the state.

Six of the passengers regained their freedom on Monday.