January 6, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
ABUJA — Suspected kidnappers have shot and killed one of two brothers abducted on New Year’s Day in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, escalating concerns about the rising tide of armed violence and insecurity in the region. The incident, confirmed by official sources and independent reports, has drawn fresh attention to the peril faced by professionals and civilians alike amid Nigeria’s persistent kidnapping crisis.
The deceased has been identified as Tahir Abu Emhoye, a recent medical graduate from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who was reportedly seized on January 1, 2026, alongside his elder brother, Dr. Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a medical doctor undergoing housemanship at Edo State Teaching Hospital, Auchi. The two men had been returning home from work along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp when they were ambushed by armed assailants.
According to family and security sources, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦200 million in ransom for the release of the brothers, triggering tense negotiations with the victims’ relatives. Despite efforts to reduce the ransom, developments took a tragic turn when Tahir’s lifeless body was discovered near a riverbank after a bush-search by security operatives, including police, military personnel, local vigilantes and hunters. His remains were identified by family members and later buried.
Edo State Police Command spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem confirmed the discovery of the body on behalf of law enforcement, and noted that an intensive manhunt for the surviving medical doctor and the kidnappers is ongoing, with authorities intensifying ground operations in surrounding forests and communities to secure his safe release.
The attack exemplifies the broader escalation in kidnap-for-ransom incidents afflicting parts of Nigeria, where professionals, travellers and rural residents are increasingly targeted by armed groups and criminal networks. Security analysts and community representatives have condemned the killing and called for more robust action by the federal and state governments to curb the endemic insecurity that continues to claim lives and undermine public safety.
The surviving brother remains in captivity, and authorities have appealed to anyone with information to assist in the ongoing efforts to rescue him and bring those responsible to justice.