Suspected gunmen have kidnapped a medical doctor and his brother in Auchi, Edo State.
The victims were identified as Dr Abu Ibrahim Babatunde and Abu Tahir. The abduction occurred on Thursday night along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, in Etsako West Local Government Area.
Babatunde, who is currently undergoing his housemanship at the Edo State Teaching Hospital, Auchi, was said to be returning home from work with his brother when the incident happened.
Sources said the brothers arrived at their residence at about 7:30 p.m. As Tahir stepped out of the vehicle to open the gate, armed men reportedly emerged from hiding.
The gunmen were said to have abducted the brothers at gunpoint and forced them into a nearby bush.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the command received a distress call on Friday.
She said, “Operatives were immediately deployed to the scene and a coordinated manhunt was launched.”
According to her, the search involves the police, local vigilantes, forest guards and Community Safety Partnership Volunteers who are familiar with the terrain.
She added that intensive search-and-rescue operations are ongoing in the surrounding forest to rescue the victims and arrest those responsible.
Ikoedem assured that the command would leave no stone unturned to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted brothers.
