Families and community members of seven kidnapped individuals in Edo State have challenged the state police command’s account that the victims were rescued by operatives.

They insist that the abductees were freed without police intervention after their families paid a total of N6.5 million as ransom.

The Edo State Police Command had earlier stated that its operatives successfully rescued seven victims from kidnappers in the Ewohimi area of Esan South-East Local Government Area. According to the statement, signed by the command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the incident occurred on November 1 following a distress report from Enoch Omozokpia, whose father, Mr. William Omozokpia, was abducted on his farm by armed kidnappers.

Ikoedem said, “Acting swiftly on the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ewohimi, led a team of operatives in a joint rescue mission with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups. The team stormed the forest in a well-coordinated operation, engaging in an intense bush-combing effort that forced the abductors to abandon their captives and flee. All seven victims were rescued unhurt and have since been reunited with their families.”

The victims were identified as Mr. William Akhabue, Mr. Innocent Ebarekor, Mrs. Rachel Ebarekor, Miss Efuah Ebarekor, Master Winner Ebarekor, Mr. William Omozokpia, and Mr. Lucky Igiese, popularly known as Bulala.

The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika, commended the professionalism and bravery of the police operatives, soldiers, and vigilantes involved in the operation, promising ongoing efforts to track down the fleeing suspects.

However, some users claiming to be family and community members of the victims disputed the police version of events in comments on the command’s Facebook page.

Ken Mulla, who said one of the victims was his uncle, stated that the families and community paid N6.5 million to secure the victims’ release. He wrote, “When did the Edo State Police rescue them? My uncle is Omozokpia William. The family and entire community paid N6.5 million for their release. The police did not even know when they returned from the kidnappers. Why is the Edo State Police lying to the citizens of Edo State?”

Similarly, Akhabue Williams Mathew, whose father was among the kidnapped, said, “We personally paid N6.5 million for their release, yet the police are taking credit. Is this how you intend to tackle insecurity in Edo State?”

Other community members, including Glory William and Cosmos Osunde, echoed that a ransom was paid and described the police’s rescue claim as false. Mc Deputy Yuan added, “The Edo State Police didn’t rescue anything. The family paid N6.5 million to the kidnappers. Which rescue is the police talking about?”

When contacted for further clarification on Sunday, ASP Ikoedem promised to respond but had not done so at the time of reporting.