Families and community members of the seven kidnapped victims in Edo State have rejected the police command’s claim that officers rescued the abductees.

They insist the victims were released only after relatives and community members raised and paid N6.5 million as ransom, without any police involvement.

This contradicts a statement issued by the Edo State Police Command, which said its operatives, alongside soldiers and vigilantes, rescued the victims during a joint operation in the Ewohimi area on November 1.

However, several people identifying as relatives of the victims took to Facebook to dismiss the police account.
They stated that:

Families and community members contributed N6.5m for the victims’ release.

The police were not present when the abductees returned.

The rescue claim was “false” and “misleading.”

Multiple commenters—identified as relatives of the victims—accused the police of taking credit for an operation they did not carry out.

When contacted for clarification, the police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said he would respond but had not done so at the time of reporting.