Discrepancies in the Rescue Narrative
Families and community members of seven individuals who were reportedly kidnapped in Edo State have raised concerns over the official account provided by the state police command. According to these families, the victims were released without any involvement from law enforcement, after their families paid a ransom of N6.5 million.
This claim contrasts sharply with the statement issued by the Edo State Police Command, which described a successful rescue operation involving the police, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups. The statement, signed by Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Eno Ikoedem, detailed how the police received a distress call on November 1 regarding the abduction of Mr. William Omozokia on his farm.
Ikoedem explained that the Divisional Police Officer for Ewohimi led a team in a joint operation with the army and vigilantes. The team conducted a coordinated effort in the forest, which resulted in the abductors abandoning the captives and fleeing. All seven victims were reported to have been rescued unharmed and reunited with their families.
The rescued individuals include:
- Mr. William Akhabue
- Mr. Innocent Ebarekor
- Mrs. Rachel Ebarekor
- Miss Efuah Ebarekor
- Master Winner Ebarekor
- Mr. William Omozokia
- Mr. Lucky Igiese (known as Bulala)
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the efforts of all involved parties and reiterated the command’s commitment to public safety. He also emphasized that efforts are ongoing to track down the suspects and bring them to justice.
Community Reactions and Contradictory Accounts
Despite the police statement, several individuals claiming to be family members or community representatives have expressed skepticism about the rescue narrative. They argue that the release of the victims was facilitated through the payment of a ransom, not through police intervention.
One such individual, Ken Mulla, claimed that one of the victims was his uncle, Mr. William Omozokia. He stated that the family and community collectively paid N6.5 million to secure the release of the abducted individuals. Mulla questioned the police’s involvement, asking, “How and when? When did the Edo State Police rescue them?”
Another user, Akhabue Williams Mathew, corroborated this claim, stating that his father was among those taken and that the family paid the ransom. He criticized the police for taking credit for an operation they were not part of.
Glory William and Cosmos Osunde also echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the police account was false and that the ransom was paid before the victims were released. Osunde went further, calling the police statement a lie and urging the authorities to improve their response to insecurity.
Mc Deputy Yuan, another community member, confirmed that the police had no role in the release of the captives. He emphasized that the family paid N6.5 million to the kidnappers before the victims were returned.
Lack of Clarification
When contacted for further information, ASP Eno Ikoedem promised to respond but had not done so at the time of this report. This lack of clarification has left many questioning the accuracy of the police’s claims and the true circumstances surrounding the release of the kidnapped individuals.