A former lawmaker in Edo State identified as Festus Edughele, has been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Monday.
He represented Esan Southeast Constituency at the State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), between 2015 and 2019.
A yet-to-be-named staff of the State Accountant-General’s office was abducted with the ex-lawmaker.
Their abduction is coming less than 48 hours after some bandits attacked the Igueben-Ekehen train station, in the Igueben Local Government Area of the state, where they abducted 31 passengers.
The ex-lawmaker was supposed to board a train at the Igueben station to Abuja on Saturday but narrowly escaped abduction.
He was on his way to Benin City Airport to board a flight to Abuja when they were abducted at Ugoneki community, in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.
A source close to the kidnapped victims said they were traveling in a convoy of two vehicles, but the gunmen attacked the vehicle that conveyed the duo.
A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Festus Ebea, who confirmed the incident, added that his former colleague intended to board the now-suspended train service from Ubiaja to Abuja on Saturday, but narrowly escaped abduction.
“He was kidnapped this morning at Ugoneki on his way from Ubiaja to Benin. He had intended to take the train for Ubiaja but he could not do so since the train services had been suspended.
“The family is aware of his kidnap, the police division in that area has been informed and we hope action will be taken to rescue him,” he said.
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