Itsukwi, a small agrarian community in Ward 9 of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, has again been thrown into fear and despair following the abduction of six teenage boys and a farmer by suspected kidnappers.

The victims, all teenage boys and a full-grown man, were seized on Monday in two separate incidents.

While Mr. Alfred Kupa reportedly ran into the armed men on his way to his farm, the six teenagers were rounded up while heading into the forest to retrieve sawn wood for a timber contractor resident in the community.

The latest attack triggered a massive search operation involving the police, the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilantes and community youths.

Chairman of the Itsukwi Homeland Security, Malam Bashir Kasim, said the local police were notified, and officers were mobilised to the community before launching a joint operation into the surrounding forests.

During the search, operatives reportedly discovered blood-stained dry leaves and two expended AK-47 shell casings deep inside the bush.

“We came to a point where we saw dry leaves splashed with blood and two expended AK-47 shell casings. It is left to be seen who was shot or whether the person is dead or alive,” an eyewitness told Daily Independent.

The search continued on Tuesday with reinforcement from the military, NSCDC personnel, vigilante groups and local youths led by Malam Kasim.

Residents said a police helicopter was also deployed to support the operation, but no rescue had been made as of the time of filing this report.

President of the Itsukwi Youths, Mr. Sule Abako, disclosed that the kidnappers later contacted the victims’ families and demanded ?60 million for their release.

“I was with Afatiafu Salufu, Alfred’s elder brother, when they called. Alfred spoke briefly with his brother before the kidnappers took over. The man who spoke was obviously Fulani from the way he spoke. He told us to hurry because one of the captives is injured and bleeding profusely. We did not even bargain before they cut the call and switched off the line,” Abako said.

The Councillor representing Ward 9, Hon. Usman Igbasekhe, confirmed that he had briefed the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government, Hon. Sunny Akiotu Ekpetika, who promised swift intervention.

Itsukwi is one of several communities in Ivieland, including Okpekpe, Imiakebu and Imiegba, that have suffered repeated attacks by armed kidnappers over the past three years.

Residents say persistent insecurity has forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, while families have sold homes, livestock and cash crops to raise ransom payments.

In April this year, gunmen abducted housewife Mrs. Jenny Igbeh and 80-year-old Pa Michael Arekheyemhe from Itsukwi before kidnapping more residents in neighbouring Imiakebu.

After more than three weeks in captivity, relatives reportedly paid ?11 million for the victims’ release.

According to Mrs. Igbeh, the elderly man was executed after he became too weak to continue walking.

“They shot him twice, covered him with leaves and marched the rest of us away,” she recounted after regaining freedom.

A community search team later combed the forest for Pa Michael’s remains, but his body has never been recovered.

Lamenting the recurring attacks, Malam Kasim appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Etsako East Council Chairman to urgently restore security to Ivieland.

“This is a community with near-zero government presence. Can’t we just live in peace? If we cannot farm, how do we feed our families and pay the school fees of our children? Able-bodied young men and women now stay at home because the forests and farmlands have become death traps. Whoever goes there does so at his own risk. We need help,” he said.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Etsako East Local Government Chairman were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered and a text message had not been replied to at the time of filing this report.

For residents of Itsukwi and the wider Ivieland, the latest abduction is another painful reminder of a growing security crisis that continues to threaten lives, livelihoods, and the future of farming communities in northern Edo State. (Daily Independent)