Dr Ibrahim Abu Babatunde, who was abducted alongside his brother, has regained freedom after two weeks in the kidnappers’ den.
DAILY POST reports that the medical doctor, a housemanship staff with the Edo University Teaching Hospital, Iyamho, was on January 1, 2026, abducted alongside his younger brother, Abu Tahir, a fresh medical doctor graduate from Ambrose Alli University, AAU, after the close of work.
The duo were kidnapped at the gate of their residence located at Igbira camp, Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Edo University Teaching Hospital is located in Auchi.
The abductors who had earlier demanded the sum of N200million ransom for the duo, however, killed Tahir Abu on January 6, 2026.
His lifeless body was found by the river side by security operatives.
Despite the death of the newly graduated medical doctor, the gunmen still held Dr Ibrahim Abu Babatunde hostage and reduced the ransom to N100million.
The ransom was reportedly further reduced to N40 million after additional negotiations with family members.
The news of the release of Dr Babatunde was made public in a viral video posted on different social media platforms.
One of the platforms, Auchi blog, said the medical doctor was rescued by Auchi hunters and local vigilantes in the forest on Wednesday evening, about 8pm.
A narrator in the video said the vigilantes neutralised one of the abductors.
The vigilantes were seen in the video helping the doctor to enter a waiting vehicle after the rescue.
He said the doctor sustained a gunshot injury on his leg.
According to him, “he was rescued in a deep forest. I am carrying him from a very long distance. He cannot walk because the kidnappers shot him in the leg.”
Edo State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Eustace Oseghale, confirmed the release of the doctor.
Oseghale, who said the state executives of the association are currently in a meeting, added that they will issue an official statement.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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