Two village chiefs, five others arrested over Edo train attack

Edo State government has confirmed the arrest of two village chiefs in connection with the January 7 train attack which resulted in the kidnap of 20 passengers at the Igueben train station.

Chris Nehikhare, state’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, said this when he briefed newsmen shortly after the state executive council meeting in Benin on Wednesday.

Nehikhare said that seven other suspects had also been arrested in connection with the incident.

He added that the two remaining passengers in captivity had also been rescued by security agents.

“The success story in the kidnapping is that five persons and two village chiefs have been arrested in connection with the incident and they are helping with investigations,” he said.

Speaking on the Lassa fever outbreak in the state, Nehikhare said that the federal government and its agencies had failed to moblise to the state in spite of all appeal for help from the government.

“Over 50 persons have been infected with the Lassa fever since the outbreak in the state, we have five per cent fatality rate which is very high compared to COVID-19.