Delta State residents are once again reeling from a violent abduction in rural communities, as armed assailants kidnapped two palm-wine tappers on Thursday, killing one of them after his family, unable to raise a larger ransom, offered only N10,000.

The attack occurred in Emuhu community, near Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area. Both victims, known for their early-morning routine of venturing deep into the forest to tap palm wine, were ambushed by gunmen who have been terrorising rural settlements in Delta and neighbouring Edo State.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows the surviving victim lying weakly on the ground moments after his rescue, barely able to speak, and pleading for water.

Coordinated Rescue Operation

Local leaders and security networks immediately mobilised in response to the abduction. Troops of the 63 Brigade, the Emuhu Vigilante Group, Anti-Cult Abavo, Operation Soup, and multiple police units conducted a coordinated search spanning Emuhu, Abavo, Obi-Ayama, and the dense forest of Urhonigbe in Edo State.

The operation successfully located one of the kidnapped men alive in Urhonigbe, traumatised, dehydrated, and unable to walk without assistance. According to his account, his colleague was executed by the kidnappers after his family could only offer N10,000. The assailants reportedly viewed the amount as an “insult” and shot the victim dead.

Aftermath

The rescued victim is currently receiving medical attention, while joint security forces continue efforts to apprehend the kidnappers.

Security expert Zagazola Makama commented on the incident, highlighting the brutal reality faced by rural Nigerians: “Families too poor to pay ransom, communities living in fear, and criminals treating human lives as bargaining chips.”

This tragic case underscores the continuing insecurity plaguing remote communities in Delta and Edo states, as residents live under constant threat from armed groups.