Edo brothers escape kidnappers after their captors fell asleep in the forest. Vigilantes later found them safe near the Adughe–Imoga border area

Two brothers abducted along the Adughe–Imoga Road in Edo State have regained their freedom after their kidnappers reportedly fell asleep in the forest, allowing them to flee.

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The victims, identified as Isaac and Victor Olayere, were kidnapped on November 8, sending the Uma/Imoga community into panic after their abductors demanded ₦22 million as ransom.

According to reports, the brothers later called their father with an unknown number to inform him of their escape.

Confirming the development in a telephone interview on Monday, the Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye, said the victims were rescued by vigilantes from Adughe, a neighbouring Kogi community.

“It was said that the kidnappers suddenly went into a deep sleep in the forest, which gave their victims the chance to escape,” the monarch said.

“The vigilantes found them and alerted Imoga residents, who later combed the forest, but the kidnappers had fled.”

The traditional ruler lamented the growing insecurity in the Edo–Kogi–Ondo border region, describing Imoga as a hotspot for kidnapping and herder attacks.

“We need a police post here. If a police presence is established, officers can patrol the area regularly and reassure residents of safety,” Obajoye appealed.

He noted that Imoga, the largest village in Akoko Edo by landmass, has witnessed an influx of herders and remains a key link between Edo State and northern Nigeria.

Governor Monday Okpebholo, who took office in November 2024, has launched several initiatives — including security upgrades and infrastructure rehabilitation — but kidnapping remains a major challenge across the state.

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The crisis reached a flashpoint on March 28, 2025, when an angry mob in Uromi, Edo Central, lynched seven travellers suspected of kidnapping after guns were discovered in their truck.