Edo State government has clarified that only 20 persons were kidnapped in last Saturday’s train station attack and not 32 as earlier reported.
It said with the rescue of seven of the victims, only 13 persons are in the custody of the abductors.
The commissioner for communication and orientation, Chris Nekhihare, who stated this yesterday, said the latest information was gotten from security intelligence.
He said, “From intelligence report, the kidnappers only took 20 hostages as against 32 initially reported.”
The government’s spokesman said in pursuant of this, the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, has meet with Igueben community leaders and heads of security agencies to assure residents of measures being taken to check crime.
He quoted Shaibu as saying that the government is strengthening security to check crime and criminality, vowing that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration will make the state unsafe for kidnappers and other criminal elements to thrive.
He said the deputy governor was joined at the meeting by other top government officials, including the senator representing Edo Central senatorial district, Senator Clifford Ordia and the speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, where he called for calm among residents of Igueben LGA, and urged members of the public to provide useful information that will aid rescue efforts by security agencies.
He said Shaibu informed the people of what government is doing to give morale boost to troops on ground and also review the security strategy, warning the people of the consequences of harbouring terrorists in their domain.
