The deceased, identified as Tahir Abu Emhoye, was taken alongside his older brother, Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, on January 1, 2026.

By Asaye Bankole

Gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, have killed one of two doctors abducted in Auchi, the administrative center of Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo State.

The deceased, identified as Tahir Abu Emhoye, was taken alongside his older brother, Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, on January 1, 2026.

The two brothers were abducted around 7:30 p.m. along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, at the gate of their home while trying to enter after returning from work.

Tahir Abu Emhoye was a recent medical graduate from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, while his older brother is currently completing his housemanship at Edo University Teaching Hospital, Auchi.

Sources said the kidnappers contacted the family on Saturday, January 3, 2026, demanding a ransom of ₦200 million for the release of the brothers.

The father of the abducted doctors, Momoh Tahir, told reporters on Sunday that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦200 million from the family.

He said that after negotiations, the ransom was reduced to ₦100 million, and he remained hopeful that further discussions could bring an additional reduction.

“It’s been a very difficult experience for our family, but I pray that they will return home safely,” he said.

“They have been in contact with us since the kidnapping. They asked for ₦200 million, but we managed to negotiate it down to ₦100 million. We are still hoping for further reduction.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the brothers’ abduction on Saturday and said a search of nearby bushland began immediately after the police received the report.

A viral video shared on the Auchi Blog and Services Facebook page by Ismail Egbomiade claimed that the deceased who had previously served as Director of Sports for the Ambrose Alli University Students’ Union government was killed by the abductors and his body dumped near a river.

Security operatives searching the surrounding bushes and forests later discovered the body. ASP Ikoedem confirmed that the body was found by the riverside and identified by family members as one of the kidnapped doctors.

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