Armed kidnappers abduct seven Nigerian Navy officers enroute to Sapele in Edo State

SEVEN men serving with the Nigerian Navy have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the Sapele-Warri Road in Edo State as the country's ongoing insecurity crisis spirals out of control.

Apparently, the officers were ambushed and kidnapped while travelling to Delta State from Kaduna State. Police spokesman Kotongs Bello, who confirmed the incident, said that fortunately, the Edo State Police Command had managed to rescue five of the abducted officers.

According to military sources, the men were on their way to Navy Engineering College in Sapele in Delta State. Travelling from the Nigerian Naval Base in Kaduna, the officers were about to venture into Delta State when they were kidnapped.

He added that the command is working hard to ensure the remaining officers are also rescued unhurt. If late, criminals have been on rampage across the country, killing and kidnapping citizens despite efforts by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to combat their activities.

With kidnapping now a thriving industry, these gunmen abduct people with brazen impunity and demand hefty ransom fees for their release. Across northern Nigeria, the kidnappers have resorted to attacking schools and abducting pupils, while travellers along main inter-city routes are regularly targeted.