APC candidate kidnapped in Edo

Titus Akhigbe, Benin-City

A candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the House of Assembly in Edo state in the forthcoming general election, Mr Michael Ohio-Ezomon, has been abducted by a three-man gang who killed his police orderly in the process. He was reportedly abducted in his house at Eme-Ora, Owan West local government area. The victim was a former member of the House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015 and now seeking re-election in the 2019 election. The incident was confirmed by the Chairman of the local government council, Mr Frank Illaboya. Illaboya said that Ohio-Ezomon was abducted about 1am on Thursday. The chairman said that the case had been reported to the police. It was also gathered that the state commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had visited the scene of the incident. “Our candidate in the forthcoming election has been abducted by three gunmen at his house at about 1am. “The orderly attached to him was killed and our candidate was taken away by gunmen through the window “As I speak to you now, no contact from the abductors. We have contacted the commissioner of police and he is on his way to the local government,” Illaboya said. Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for calm following the reported kidnap of Mr. Ohio Ezomon. The Governor has also directed the Edo State Police Command to immediately launch a rescue operation. The Governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said a rescue operation commenced immediately the incident was brought to the attention of security agencies. According to him, “Governor Godwin Obaseki is on top of the incident and calls on the people to remain calm. He has ordered the Police Command to ensure that the kidnap victim is rescued. The Commissioner of Police has arrived Owan West. He is championing the investigation.”