Governor Monday Okpebholo has expressed grief over the fatal abduction of Dr Tahir who was taken into hostage by gunmen ahead of his mandatory one year housemanship after his graduation at the Ambrose Alli University in Edo State.
The slain victim and his brother, Babatunde Abu, were abducted on January 1 on City Pride road, Igbira Camp, Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.
Abu, undergoing housemanship at Edo Teaching Hospital, was driving home with his brother who is still in captivity when gunmen ambushed them near their residence.
But, last week Thursday, a video emerged on social media showing
Tahir’s body was discovered at a riverbank during a bush-combing operation by police, army, local vigilantes, and hunters last weekend, after his abductors had demanded the sum of N200 million ransom.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dr Ebojele Patrick, Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, described the incident as unfortunate, painful and deeply regrettable.
He, assured that the public that the incident does not diminish the resolve of the state to sustain and intensify its fight against kidnapping and other crime.
The government noted that the existential threat of kidnapping has become a worrisome issue that has taken more than a devoted attention of government.
But for our intervention and the quality of what we have invested in curbing kidnapping, the spate would have been more alarming than what we presently have.
The incident of the Doctor’s kidnap was quite unfortunate, painful and regrettable, as it tended to cast a slur on our spirited efforts at addressing this challenge.
Before the yuletide season, men of the Operation Rescue carried out a holistic bush combing exercise across Auchi, Agenebode, Okpella, Fugar and Owan areas to expose kidnappers’ den, according to the Governor.
The exercise was not only successful, the number of persons arrested and being prosecuted presently underscored the extent of the exercise.
The Operation rescue team were able to destroy quite a number of hide-outs of these kidnappers aside from the arrest. Some were also killed in the cause of fire power exchanges in the forests.
“We feel pained as a government that the kidnappers claimed the life of Dr. Abu Momoh Tahir at a time we thought we had gotten to the safer corridor of our security engagement.
“We will continue to improve on our effort to make Edo non-habitable for crimes and criminalities as we call on all to be vigilant around their environment at all times.
“If anyone observes strange movements around their vicinity, appropriate report should be given to the law enforcement agents without delay.
“We condole with the family of Dr. Abu Momoh Tahir over this avoidable death. We wish to assure the public that those who carried out this dastardly act will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law. They surely will not escape the long arms of the law”, he said.
Recall that the Okpebholo-led administration has been relentless in providing solutions to several security challenges; the peaceful and crime-free yuletide celebration is an indication of our commitment to making Edo state safe for all.
