Edo police have rescued a 70-year-old farmer, Pa Jonah Owobu, after suspected kidnappers demanded N30 million for his release in Uromi, Edo State.
Owobu, a native of Uwalo Oke in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, was rescued during a joint operation involving police operatives, military personnel, local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Corps.
The operation began after the farmer failed to return home from his farm, prompting his wife to report the matter to the police.
Edo Police Rescue 70-Year-Old Farmer After Abduction
According to the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, Owobu was abducted on Monday, April 20, 2026, after going to his farm.
His wife reported the incident at the Amedokhian Divisional Police Headquarters on Tuesday, April 21, at about 7:10 a.m., after becoming concerned that he had not returned. She later told the police that unknown individuals had contacted the family around 9:30 p.m. on April 20, demanding N30 million for Owobu’s release.
The ransom demand raised fears for the elderly farmer’s safety, but security operatives moved to begin a search before any payment could be made.
Edo Police Rescue Operation Leads to Forest Hideout
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer at Amedokhian mobilised a joint team made up of police officers, military personnel, local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Corps.
The team entered the surrounding forest in search of Owobu and the people holding him. During the operation, operatives found the farmer’s abandoned motorcycle and some of his personal belongings along a forest route. The discovery provided a lead that helped the team move further into the area.
The search eventually led security operatives to the hideout where Owobu was being held.
According to Ikoedem, the suspected kidnappers fled into the bush after sighting the advancing security team, leaving the elderly farmer behind.
Owobu was rescued unhurt and later reunited with his family. Police also confirmed that no ransom was paid.
Edo Police Continue Manhunt for Kidnappers
Following the rescue, security operatives continued combing the surrounding forest in an effort to locate and arrest the fleeing suspects. Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Monday Agbonika, commended the personnel involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Agbonika also urged residents to provide credible and timely information that could help security agencies respond to criminal activity in their communities.
The rescue comes amid continued security concerns in parts of Edo, where farmers and other residents have faced kidnapping threats, particularly in areas close to forests and rural communities.
Edo Police Rescue 11 Farmers in Earlier Operation
The rescue of Owobu is not an isolated operation by security agencies in Edo State.
In June 2026, Edo police, working with local vigilantes and hunters, rescued 11 farmers who had been abducted from their farms in Ogbido Community, Iyahmo, in Etsako West Local Government Area.
The operation followed a distress call on June 25. The rescue team searched the surrounding forest and encountered the kidnappers. The suspects eventually fled, abandoning the victims.
The 11 rescued farmers were taken for medical examination before being reunited with their families, according to the police.
Such operations have highlighted the role of local hunters and community-based security groups in helping conventional security agencies navigate difficult forest terrain.
Edo Police Strengthen Response to Kidnapping
The latest rescue also underscores the importance of quick reporting when a person goes missing. In Owobu’s case, the report from his wife allowed the police to begin searching the area and work with other security personnel. The recovery of his motorcycle and belongings then provided an important lead that helped narrow the search.
For families living in farming communities, the incident is another reminder of the security risks faced by people who travel to and from remote farms. While the 70-year-old farmer is now safely back with his family, the suspects who abducted him remain at large.
The Edo State Police Command said efforts to track down the fleeing kidnappers are continuing as security agencies maintain operations in the area.
For Owobu and his family, however, the immediate outcome is a welcome one: he is home safely, and the N30 million ransom demanded by his abductors was never paid.
