The “terrorist attack” in Edo State has been condemned by the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), which has expressed concern about the region’s growing insecurity.
In response to the kidnapping of dozens of tourists in Igueben on Saturday, the group released a statement on Tuesday.
As they waited to board a train from Igueben Station to Warri in Delta State, the incident resulted in the injuries of some passengers and the kidnapping of more than 30 others.
Mudiaga Ogboru, a spokesperson for the NDC, criticized the ambush on innocent citizens and the subsequent series of attacks since last year.
He stated that “the same terrorists masquerading as herdsmen” attempted to carry out the “same styled terrorist attack successfully executed in Igueben” on July 8, 2022, at the Delta train station of Abraka.
Additionally, the organization recalled the tragic attacks that occurred in the final months of 2022 on communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River States.
The NDC stated that the governors have yet to establish a regional security organization as evidence of their commitment to protecting lives and property, despite numerous calls from stakeholders and the general public. The NDC noted that the frequency of the calls was troubling.
Despite persistent outcry and reports of unknown armed individuals lurking in forest reserves, the body declared that their “reluctance to take action” “is becoming untenable and unacceptable.”
The NDC tasked the region’s governors with working toward the kidnappers’ release and quickly establishing mechanisms to prevent further attacks.
The statement expressed sympathy for the injured and the captives’ families, wishing them speedy recovery and safe return of loved ones.
Precious Aigbonoga, President of the Igueben Area Customary Court, and Festus Edughele, an ex-member of the Edo House of Assembly, were both taken hostage on Monday in separate incidents.
The judicial official’s wife is Afebu Aigbonoga, the PDP candidate for Etsako West Constituency 1 in the House of Assembly.