At least 12 hostages abducted by gunmen at the Ubeaja train station have been rescued by Security operatives, the Edo State Police Command said.
The victims were rescued unhurt from Ughboa Forest by the joint forces working tirelessly to ensure the victims were reunited with their families unhurt, the state police commissioner, Mohammed Dankwara,
Gunmen launched the attack 360 kilometres (220 miles) east of Lagos on January 7, kidnapping dozens of people including young children who were waiting for a train to Delta state.
“Twelve of the remaining 14 kidnapped victims from the Igueben train station attack have been rescued by a combined team of security operatives,” Edo state information commissioner Chris Osa Nehikhare said on Sunday.
There was some confusion whether the total number of people initially kidnapped was nearer 24 or 32.
But Nehikhare said on Sunday there were only “two remaining hostages”.
The rescue operation was led by “various security agencies in the state, hunters and members of the Edo State Security Network (a vigilante group)”, Nehikhare said.
“During the encounter with the abductors… some of the kidnappers were arrested. However, a few of the kidnappers escaped with two of the hostages,” he said.
The authorities will “leave no stone unturned in securing the release of the two remaining hostages,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dankwara named the rescued victims to be, “Eunice Eseba (56 years), Marian Mowoe (28 years), Faith Smart (42 years), Precious Egwuje (28 years), Obehi Omaben (39 years) and Amm Benson (42 years).
Others are Favour Akungo (18 years), Akhimen Ehiemamen (48 years), Christian Iyere (33 years), Emmanuel Esieba (67 years), Iyoha Julius (25 years) and Aguelle Beatrice (42 years).
“This brings to 18 the number of victims rescued while two others who are staff members of the Nigeria Railway Cooperation are still being held captive by the kidnappers.
“Meanwhile, operation and synergy continue to ensure the remaining two are rescued,” he added.
