The President of Igueben Area Customary Court, Precious Aigbonoga, was on Monday abducted by gunmen around Ugoneki axis, on her way to Court in Igueben LGA of Edo.

Chairman of the Lion Bar, Nosa Edo-Osagie, in a statement by Festus Usiobaifo, Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin branch, expressed sadness over the abduction.

Mr Edo-Osagie, while condemning the act, expressed worry over bandits’ operation in the area and kidnapping of Mrs Aigbonoga, whom he described as an easygoing, gentle, and hardworking judicial officer.

“Meanwhile, the Dream Team is in close touch with the Commissioner of Police, C.P. Mohammed Adamu Dankwara. By the grace of God Almighty, His Honour shall be rescued unhurt, and the bandits brought to book, Amen!,” he said.

The abduction is coming on the heels of Saturday’s abduction of 32 passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben Station in the Igueben LGA of the state to Warri in Delta, by suspected herdsmen.

The kidnapped court’s president is the wife of Afebu Aigbonoga, a PDP House of Assembly candidate for Etsako West Constituency 1.

In a related development, a former House of Assembly member in Edo, Festus Edughele, was also kidnapped on Monday by suspected gunmen in Ubiaja, on his way from Orhionmwon LGA to Benin.

Former speaker of the assembly, Festus Ebea, who confirmed the incident, said his former colleague intended to board the now suspended train service from Ubiaja to Abuja.

“He was kidnapped this morning in Ubiaja on his way from Orhionmwon to Benin.

“He had intended to take the train for Ubiaja but he could not do so since the train services had been suspended.

“The family is aware of his kidnap, the police division in that area has been informed and we hope action will be taken to rescue him,” Mr Ebea said.

When contacted for comments, the Edo Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, did not answer calls put across to his cell phone.

(NAN)