A secondary school student, Tope Oriloye, has regained her freedom after being abducted by gunmen in Makeke Community, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, and released following the payment of a N2 million ransom.

Oriloye was seized alongside another victim, Samuel Ilesanmi, at a community health centre where Ilesanmi had taken his child for medical attention. Armed men reportedly stormed the facility, targeting the two and whisking them away into the surrounding bush.

The National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, Bode Ekundayo, confirmed Oriloye’s release, describing it as a relief for the traumatised community. He said residents had been living in fear since the abduction, while frantic efforts were made to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

According to Ekundayo, the abductors initially demanded N100 million for the release of both victims, a sum far beyond the reach of the families and the community. After days of negotiation, the ransom was reportedly reduced, and N2 million was eventually paid to secure Oriloye’s freedom.

Ekundayo noted that while the community is thankful that the student returned home alive and unharmed, attention has now turned to securing the release of Ilesanmi, who hails from Ososo, another community in Akoko Edo. He appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the remaining victim.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed Oriloye’s release through its Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who said the student had been reunited with her family. She did not provide further details on the operation or on the status of Ilesanmi, but indicated that investigations were ongoing.

The incident has deepened concerns over the rising wave of kidnappings in Edo State, particularly in rural and border communities. In a separate case earlier in the year, seven residents of Imoga were abducted from a hotel along the Imoga-Ibillo axis. Their captors also began with a N100 million ransom demand before reducing it several times during negotiations, eventually releasing the victims after payment was made.

Community leaders in Akoko Edo are calling for increased security presence, better patrols along rural roads, and stronger intelligence gathering to curb what they describe as a growing kidnapping industry threatening education, commerce, and daily life in the area.