The family of twins kidnapped after their father was killed by suspected kidnappers has questioned the Edo State Police Command’s assertions that they were rescued unharmed.
Remember that gunmen suspected of kidnapping murdered Andrew Ilabeshi and snatched his two children.
The incident reportedly occurred on December 11 in Kalabar Quarters, Afokpella, in Etsako East Local Government Area, when gunmen forced their way into his home, inflicted knife wounds on the deceased, and kidnapped his children.
A resident claimed that after obtaining entrance to the property, the gunmen turned off Ilabeshi’s generator and attacked him when he walked out to see why it had gone off, injuring him severely.
The resident further stated that the intruders then snatched his twin children, Emmanuel and Emmanuella, both 16, into the bush, while their father perished.
The kidnappers were claimed to have wanted N100 million in ransom.
Eno Ikoedem, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, stated that the twins were rescued unharmed by a combined team of security operatives.
However, Okhale Ilabeshi, the deceased’s brother, claimed that the twins were not rescued but rather freed after a huge ransom was paid.
Okhale added that the victims were further traumatized when they learned of their father’s death after being released.
He said, “The twins were not rescued. We paid ransom to the kidnappers. Nobody rescued them. The kidnappers kept calling us. After the ransom was paid, the kidnappers asked us to go to a location, and the twins were found there.
“They were kidnapped on December 11. After their release, they were tired and exhausted. They were shocked and disappointed when they heard about their father’s death. They were aware that their father was badly injured but never knew he had died.
“The community has been strengthening the vigilante, but that has not been enough. We need the assistance of the state and federal governments to curb kidnappings.”
