Abducted Edo twins freed after ransom payment — Family faults police on rescue claims
The family of two 16-year-old twins, Emmanuel and Emmanuella, has publicly challenged the Edo State Police Command’s claim that they were “rescued” from kidnappers in the Etsako East Local Government Area. Okhale Ilabeshi, the brother of the twins’ late father, clarified in an interview on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that the teenagers were only released after a significant ransom was paid. This contradiction comes after the police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, had previously told reporters that a joint security team had successfully rescued the victims unharmed.
The tragic incident began on December 11, 2025, when gunmen invaded the family home at Kalabar Quarters in Afokpella. To lure the father, Andrew Ilabeshi, out of the house, the attackers reportedly switched off his generator; when he emerged to investigate, they attacked him with machetes, inflicting severe injuries that later claimed his life. The kidnappers then abducted the twins and initially demanded ₦100 million for their release, a situation that left the community in shock as they mourned the loss of their primary breadwinner.
Disputing the official police account, Okhale Ilabeshi stated that the family was forced to negotiate directly with the abductors. “The twins were not rescued. We paid ransom to the kidnappers. Nobody rescued them,” he explained. He noted that after the payment was made, the kidnappers provided a specific location where the family finally found the children. The twins, who were freed on December 26, were physically and emotionally exhausted, having spent over two weeks in captivity under grueling conditions.
The emotional toll on the teenagers was compounded upon their release when they learned for the first time that their father had died from his wounds. While they were aware he had been badly injured during the initial attack, they were not told of his passing until they were safe. Okhale described their reaction as one of deep devastation, adding that the news of their father’s death was a crushing blow to their hope of a happy reunion after such a traumatic ordeal.
Following the incident, the local community has attempted to bolster security by strengthening vigilante groups, but the Ilabeshi family insists that more must be done. Okhale urged both the state and federal governments to provide more substantial assistance to curb the rising tide of kidnappings in the region. He emphasized that the current local efforts are insufficient to protect residents from such violent and coordinated attacks, calling for a more proactive and honest approach to security ma
