Police exhume bodies of kidnap victims killed after N11m ransom payment
Edo State Police Exhume Bodies of Kidnap Victims
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have exhumed the bodies of two individuals believed to have been murdered by their abductors in Isiukhu Community, located in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area.
According to reports, one of the victims, 66-year-old Mrs. Favour Nosakhare, was allegedly killed after her family paid an N11 million ransom to her captors. The police confirmed this information through a statement released by ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Command’s Public Relations Officer.
The investigation began after the arrest of a 23-year-old suspect, Musa Haruna, who is believed to be a member of a notorious kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate. Along with Mrs. Nosakhare, the other identified victims include 28-year-old Mrs. Emmanuel Annabel Osasere and 26-year-old Miss Rejoice Otikpere, who served as a domestic aide.
The women were reportedly abducted on May 9, 2026, when armed assailants invaded their home. In a disturbing follow-up, the kidnappers had contacted the families via video call, showing the victims being subjected to physical abuse while demanding ransom.
This situation prompted heightened concerns among local residents and intensified police efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the suspects. Utilizing both tactical and technological resources, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) collaborated with the Drone Unit to conduct rescue operations and aerial surveillance across identified criminal hideouts in the region.
On May 19, 2026, police operatives confronted the kidnapping gang in a forest near a powerline. A gun battle ensued, during which the suspects fled into the underbrush, leaving behind a blood-soaked jacket and spent AK-47 ammunition.
Musa Haruna was later apprehended with a gunshot wound and identified as a member of the gang responsible for multiple kidnapping incidents along the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure Road corridors. During interrogation, Haruna confessed to his involvement and guided police to a forest in Ogwa Community, where the bodies were discovered on June 2, 2026.
One of the bodies was identified as Mrs. Nosakhare by her family, confirming her abduction by the assailants. Continuous investigations are being pursued to locate additional members of the gang, with police affirming their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice.
In an interview, Miss Annabelle Emmanuel, daughter of the deceased, shared that her family had complied with the kidnappers’ demands, including the payment of the ransom, prior to her mother’s death. Haruna, who described himself as a cattle herder, revealed that the syndicate operates along major expressways and claimed he was recruited by a gang member known as “Doctor.”
The police are actively working to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in these criminal activities.
