Kidnappers protest over N5m ‘stolen’ from N20m ransom

Criminals who abducted a couple in Auchi, Edo State, have reneged on their promise to set the victims free after discovering that the agreed N20million ransom was short of N5million.

At the center of the controversy is a notable social media personality, Harrison Gwamnishu. Harrison identifies as a security expert on social media, showing videos of his involvement in recovering police bribes for victims and collaborating to track kidnappers.

Based on the accusation from persons privy to the matter, some relatives of the couple had tapped Harrison to facilitate the latter’s release from the kidnappers’ den. He was also responsible for delivering the whopping ransom to the criminals at their hideout. Recounting their experience, a relative of the victims claimed Harrison and some members of team were scared stiff to go into the kidnappers’ hideout, located inside a thick bush. The relative said, instead, he took the task upon himself. But the hope that the couple would be reunited with their loved ones turned became a mirage as the kidnappers released only the wife, while they held on to the husband. Their excuse reportedly was that the ransom was incomplete.

Following the revelation, the police invited Harrison, who allegedly confessed to taking N5million out of the ransom for himself. Harrison, however, denied the claim in a video he posted to X. He rather said that the family knew ahead of time that the criminals would release only the wife, which they told the family directly even before he (Harrison) got involved.

The victims’ relatives believed that Harrison’s alleged conduct made the kidnappers changed their mind about releasing the couple at the same time.

Also, a police team reportedly dispatched to Harrison’s hotel room discovered the money hidden in his backpack and in a nylon bag. The accuser added that Harrison ran away from the state, leaving his vehicle behind.

In his own statement, Harrison denied running away but said concern for his safety led to his decision. “My life and members of my team were under threat”, he stated. He also stated that he did not abandon his vehicle. As he said, the Divisional Police Officer in Auchi advised him before he embarked on the operation to keep his vehicle at the station, in order to avoid a trail.

• By Fola Ademosu