Igbodo, Delta – Residents of Igbodo in Ika North-East Local Government Area, Delta State, are living in fear following a deadly reprisal by suspected kidnappers that claimed the life of a young man, Ekene Kasiakwe.
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‎The incident is believed to be connected to the earlier abduction of his elder brother, Godspower Ikechukwu Kasiakwe, who was reportedly kidnapped on October 2, 2022, shortly after returning from Thailand.
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‎The abductors were said to have demanded a ransom of ₦20 million, holding him in captivity for nearly three months while efforts were made to secure his release.
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‎Relief came on January 6, 2023, when news broke that Godspower had escaped from his captors. However, the development was followed by tragedy.
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‎On January 7, 2023, the kidnappers allegedly returned and abducted his younger brother, Ekene, in what residents described as a retaliatory move.
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‎His body was discovered the next morning in a farmland, sending shockwaves through the community.
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‎The killing has heightened tension in the area, with residents lamenting the growing wave of kidnappings, ransom demands, and killings.
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‎Many are now calling on security agencies to take decisive action to curb the escalating insecurity and protect lives and property.
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