The decomposing body of an American-based Nigerian, Eloniyo Dennis Abuda, was found dead in a forest by the police on Wednesday in Edo State, four days after he was kidnapped by criminals suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
A team, led by the Edo state Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu, found Abuda’s dead body with deep injuries, days after his family paid N10 million ransom to the abductors.
It was gathered that the abductors initially demanded N20million to free him but his family negotiated down to 10million, which was paid to the abductors without knowing Abuda was already dead.
A source, who asked to be anonymous, said, “Prince Abuda was shot by the kidnappers when he slumped and could no longer walk. The criminals did not want to leave him behind, being afraid that he would later reveal their hideout to security agencies, thereby shooting him dead.”
The victim, who was based in Atlanta, was abducted last Saturday alongside his wife and two other family members along the Benin-Auchi Road. He was reportedly traveling from his hometown to Lagos to catch a flight to the U.S when their vehicle was stopped and they were seized by the kidnappers.
Other hostages were freed after the ransom was paid and they led security officials to the scene.
A top police officer in Edo state said, “We are now finally out of the deep forest of Edo State, where the decomposing body of the kidnapped and murdered USA-based Prince Abuda was discovered and recovered. The body has been sent to the mortuary.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident, adding that the police were on a manhunt for the kidnappers.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police in Edo State personally led operatives to the kidnap scene this (yesterday) morning and they are still in the forest, on active combing of the bush.”
However, reports say a member of the family gave a different account of the incident which contradicts the police’s.
The source reported that when Abuda was found, he was still alive but in a coma and he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Benin where doctors battled to save his life without success.
This incident was what sparked anger in Edo state on Wednesday, as women came out in their numbers to protest against Fulani herdsmen and their activities in the state.