Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted the Divisional Police Officer DPO in charge of Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Ibrahim Aliyu lshaq.

He is reported to have been abducted around Ise river along the old Auchi-Ekperi- Agenebode road.

Sources said the DPO was driving his private car when he was accosted on Friday evening, November 26, 2021 by the gunmen, who shot sporadically into the air and forced his vehicle to stop before he was seized ‎and taken into the bush.

It was gathered that the abductors have demanded N50 million as ransom for the release of the police chief.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of police, Philip Ogbadu, has ordered men of the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime unit, men of the Tactical and Strike teams of the State Police Command to move to the area to rescue the DPO unhurt.

The incident, coming ahead of preparations for the celebration of Fugar Day during the yuletide, is said to have heightened apprehension among the people of Fugar, the administrative headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government, The Sun is reporting.

Sources said fear has gripped‎ the community, with members debating the incident and arguing that “if a DPO can be abducted, who is safe?”.