The Edo State Government says two village chiefs have been arrested in connection with the January 7 train attack which resulted in the kidnap of 20 passengers at the Igueben train station in the state.

The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said this while speaking to newsmen shortly after the state executive council meeting in Benin, the state capital on Wednesday.

Nehikhare said seven other suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, noting that the two remaining passengers in captivity have been rescued by security operatives.

“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.

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Speaking on the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, Nehikhare said the Federal Government and its agencies had failed to moblise to the state in spite of all appeals for help from the state 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.

“All appeal and entreaties to the federal government has been rebuffed

“We are constrained to reach out to the World Health Organisation (WHO)and other International Agencies to intervene in the infectious disease in our state.

“We have written letters to the Ministry of Health, National Centre Disease Control (NCDC), and all the people involved in disease matter to come and help us fight this disease but unfortunately they refused to come to our aid,” the commissioner stated.

The Star