Families Accuse Edo Police of Lying About Rescue of Kidnap Victims
By Joshua Uti
Families Accuse Edo Police of Lying About Rescue of Kidnap Victims
Families and residents of Ewohimi community in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State have accused the state police command of misleading the public over the release of seven kidnapped victims.
The aggrieved relatives dismissed the police claim that its operatives rescued the abductees, insisting that they were freed only after a ransom of **₦6.5 million** was paid to the kidnappers.
The Edo State Police Command had earlier announced that its officers, working with the army and local vigilantes, rescued the victims unhurt during a coordinated operation in the forest. The command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, **ASP Eno Ikoedem**, said the rescue followed a distress call from **Enoch Omozokpia**, whose father was among those abducted on November 1.
According to the police statement, the joint team’s swift action forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee. The seven persons named as rescued were William Akhabue**, **Innocent Ebarekor, Rachel Ebarekor**, **Efuah Ebarekor**, **Winner Ebarekor**, **William Omozokpia**, and **Lucky Igiese**, also known as *Bulala*.
The Commissioner of Police, **Monday Agbonika**, commended the officers for their “professionalism and gallantry,” assuring residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
However, community members took to the command’s official Facebook page to challenge the report, accusing the police of taking credit for an effort they did not make.
A user identified as **Ken Mulla**, who said one of the victims was his uncle, stated that the families and villagers contributed **₦6.5 million** to secure the victims’ freedom.
> “The police didn’t even know when they returned home. Why claim a rescue that never happened?” he wrote.
Another commenter, **Akhabue Williams Mathew**, whose father was among the abductees, also confirmed the ransom payment.
> “We paid ₦6.5 million for their release, not the police. How can they take the credit?” he said.
Others, including **Glory William**, **Cosmos Osunde**, and **Mc Deputy Yuan**, from the same community, echoed similar accounts, describing the police statement as false.
When contacted for clarification, **ASP Ikoedem** said he would provide further details but had not responded as of press time.
