Eight persons lodged at ‘Star Boy Hotel’ on Imoga-Ibillo Road, Akoko Edo Local Government, Area, Edo State, were kidnapped at gun point by a seven-man gang.The kidnappers reportedly stormed the hotel in army uniform in the twilight of Friday 9th January, 2026.
The suspected men of the underworld were reported to have arrived as guests and sat for a while to have light entertainment in the premises of the hotel located at the outskirts of Ibillo town on the road to Uma/Imoga community.
Later in the night, around 10 pm, the men in uniform reportedly moved from one room to another, harassing and kidnapping guests, including the proprietor of the hotel, shooting sporadically in the air.
They succeeded in kidnapping eight guests whom they led into the bush under the thick cover of night with their hands bound backwards.
A statement e -signed by Bode Steve Ekundayo (PhD) National Coordinator, Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People (MAAP) gave the names of those kidnapped as (1)Mr Lucky Obaloju, the Proprietor of the hotel, (2)Mr Happy Obanobi, (3)Miss Hope Omo Ola (4) Mr Jude Alabi,(5)Wisdom Obalaja, 6)Victory Adebayo, (7) Roland Olutomi, and8)Evela Afelemo. One Mr Taiye Olumowe escaped with bullet injury and has been taken to an undisclosed location for treatment.
He said majority of the victims kidnapped are natives of Uma/Imoga community, who regularly patronise the hotel.
HRH, Oba PCM Abudu Obajuoye II, the Okpahi b’ Uma/Imoga (King of Uma Community) has reported the shocking phenomenon to Ibillo Police Station.
The statement also said “no words yet from or contact with the suspected kidnappers, as family members of the victims, Imoga and Ibillo community wait on tenterhooks.
“It is not the first time such a daring event of kidnapping has been executed in Akoko Edo. Daily or weekly, poor and struggling rural people get kidnapped and forced to pay tough ransoms or sent out of the world with a gun shot or sharp dagger drawn across their fragile jugulars. Here is another infuriating instance, one too many. Where is succour? Whom do we cry to? Who will supply us arms to confront this horrible and persistent scourge?”
Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People (MAAP) once again called on the indigenous people of Akoko Edo, Akoko Edo Local Government and the State Government to rise up and squarely confront the scourge of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, mindless open grazing and illegal occupation of peoples’ land by unauthorised miners, herders and migrants, who make life tough and impossible for others.