The Edo State Police Command's assertion of a successful rescue operation has been strongly contested by the grieving family of recently freed teenage twins, who insist their release came only after a substantial ransom was paid to the kidnappers who killed their father.
Contradictory Narratives Emerge
While police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem credited a combined team of security operatives with rescuing the twins unharmed, the family presents a starkly different account. Okhale Ilabeshi, the brother of the deceased, disclosed in an interview on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that the family paid a huge ransom to the abductors to secure the children's freedom.
"The twins were not rescued. We paid ransom to the kidnappers. Nobody rescued them," Ilabeshi stated unequivocally. He explained that after the payment was made, the kidnappers directed the family to a location where the exhausted 16-year-olds, Emmanuel and Emmanuella, were found.
A Tragic Night in Afokpella
The horrific incident began on December 11, when armed men forcibly broke into the home of Andrew Ilabeshi at Kalabar Quarters in Afokpella, located within the Etsako East Local Government Area. According to local accounts, the assailants switched off the family's generator. When Andrew came out to investigate, he was attacked with machetes and suffered severe injuries. The gunmen then abducted his twin children.
The kidnappers initially demanded a staggering N100 million as ransom for the twins' release. Andrew Ilabeshi later succumbed to the injuries inflicted during the brutal home invasion.
Devastation Upon Release
The twins, who were released after the ransom negotiation, were reportedly tired and exhausted from their ordeal. Their trauma was compounded upon learning the tragic news of their father's death, which they were unaware of during their captivity.
"They were shocked and disappointed when they heard about their father’s death," Ilabeshi recounted. "They were aware that their father was badly injured but never knew he had died."
The family's experience has highlighted ongoing security challenges in the area. Ilabeshi appealed for greater governmental intervention, noting that while the community has been strengthening local vigilante efforts, it has not been sufficient. "We need the assistance of the state and federal governments to curb kidnappings," he urged.
This case underscores the persistent issue of kidnapping for ransom in parts of Nigeria and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of official security responses and the transparency surrounding such operations.
