Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Four years after he was allegedly kidnapped, family members of Victor Igbinovia, the missing driver of the Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Tiger Victor Edoror, want his sudden disappearance investigated by concerned authorities.
This is even as they expressed regret over the non-challant attitude and lack of action from the lawmaker and security operatives on his disappearance.
Edoror who represents Esan Central at the State Assembly, was allegedly kidnapped with his driver sometimes in February, 2013, at Irrua, but was later released by his captors, while the whereabouts of the driver still remains unknown till date.
Elder Sister of the missing driver, Mrs. Adesuwa Igunbor, who spoke amidst grief and anger when she led the wife and daughter of her brother in protest to the Edo State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), berated the lawmaker for amidst tears.
Mrs. Igunbor was joined by the missing driver’s wife, Felicia and her 6-year-old daughter, Osamudiamen, who was said to be barely two years when his father left home on that fateful day.
“My brother (Victor Igbinovia) was at home in Benin City on February 2, 2013, when he received a call from his boss (Victor Edoror) to the effect that he should come and carry him to Irrua in Edo Central Senatorial District.
“After the call, my brother told his wife that he would return the next day being February 3 and afterwards embarked on the journey.
“When his wife called him the next day, he told her that he was on his way back to Benin City and that she should prepare rice for him,” she lamented.
Mrs. Igunbor said calls put across to his brother’s mobile phone thereafter did not go through.
She disclosed that the development prompted the family to protest to the Assembly complex where they were later informed that Victor Igbinovia and his boss have been taken hostage.
According to her, after two weeks of the abduction, I was in the church when a call came that they have been freed.
She stated that her joy was however cut-short when she was informed that it’s only the legislator that regained freedom and that his brother was still held hostage.
Mrs. Igunbor further explained that the family members afterwards confronted the lawmaker over the fate of their brother during which he told them that both of them were taken to separate locations by the gunmen.
“Edoror further told us that the hoodlums only gave him a mobile phone when he was released and told him that they (hoodlums) will call him.
“Edoror nonetheless told us that we should be patient noting that he suspects the kidnappers were holding the driver hostage because they may want to demand another ransom.
“Days after, the family members decided to visited Edoror at his official residence to inquire if there is any news from the kidnappers.
“We were however taken aback when he claimed that he has dropped the said phone at the police station and that we should go to the police.
“Irked by his (lawmaker) grandstanding, I was now on top of my voice at is residence and move to grip him, Edoror called-in his security details who in turn drove us away,” she explained.
On her part, wife of the missing driver, Mrs. Felicia Igbinovia, who wept intermittently , coroborated his sister in-law’s comments.
She appealed to relevant security agencies to call the legislator for questioning on the whereabouts of his husband.
She said life have become unbearable for her and her only daughter since the incident occurred.
When contacted for reaction on the telephone, Edoror said he was on a journey, adding that matter was already before the police.
“I am on the way to Esan. The matter is already with the police,” he said.