The Iyase N’Udo, in Iguobazuwa, a suburb in Benin City, Patrick Ekhorufomwen Igbinigie, has been abducted by armed men.
A source at the Iyase’s Palace said that the gunmen came on Wednesday evening and took Igbinigie away while he was playing his evening game of draughts. They drove away in an Audi car.
The kidnapping was confirmed by the Police PRO Zone 5 Edo State, SP Francis Onwuzuruike, who spoke with us.
Onwuzuruike said that a team of police officerswere at the location to investigate the incident.
Morrison Ogunrobe-Ovia, the Chairman of Ovia South-West Local Government Area also confirmed the abduction to Telegraph. He said that the kidnappers were yet to make any ransom demands and that the council was working with officers at the Iguobazuwa Police Station to secure the release of the traditional ruler.
Udo, which is located near Benin, is surrounded by many towns and villages. Its traditions, culture, religion, and that of its environs, are similar to those of the Benin kingdom except for the communities around the riverine areas and others that share common borders with other states.
In the past, the Oba of Benin always sent a warlord to rule as Iyase of Udo because the title was not hereditary. The last person who was sent to Udo as the Iyase, was Emokpae. The Iyase title was made hereditary by the Oba because of Emokpae’s closeness to the Oba.
The Iyase of Udo has the supreme power in Ovia local government area, except when the children of the Oba of Benin are present.