The family of twin teenagers abducted during a deadly attack in Edo State has disputed claims by the Edo State Police Command that the victims were rescued by security operatives. The family insists that the twins regained their freedom only after a ransom was paid to their abductors.
The incident, which has drawn widespread attention, occurred on December 11 at Kalabar Quarters, Afokpella, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Gunmen believed to be kidnappers invaded the home of Mr Andrew Ilabeshi, killing him during the attack and taking away his 16-year-old twins, Emmanuel and Emmanuella.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, a brother of the deceased, Mr Okhale Ilabeshi, rejected the police version of events. He said no rescue operation was carried out by security agencies, contrary to official statements.
“The twins were not rescued,” he said. “We paid the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. After payment, we were directed to a location where the children were eventually released.”
This account directly contradicts an earlier statement by the Edo State Police Command, which announced that the teenagers were rescued unharmed by a joint team of security operatives. The police spokesperson, Mr Eno Ikoedem, had credited the release of the twins to the efforts of security forces operating in the area.
However, the family maintains that the release was purely a result of negotiations and ransom payment, not police action.
According to residents and family members, the attack was carried out in a calculated and violent manner. A resident of Afokpella, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said the attackers first disconnected Mr Ilabeshi’s generator late in the evening.
“When the generator suddenly went off, he came out to check what was wrong,” the resident said. “That was when the attackers ambushed him.”
Mr Ilabeshi was reportedly attacked with machetes and left in a pool of blood. While he lay critically injured, the assailants forced their way into the house and abducted his twin children before escaping into the nearby bush.
Despite efforts to save him, Mr Ilabeshi later died from the injuries he sustained during the attack. His death has left the family and the entire community in deep mourning.
Family sources said the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N100 million for the release of the twins. Negotiations reportedly followed, though the exact amount eventually paid was not disclosed by the family.
Mr Okhale Ilabeshi said the family went through days of fear and uncertainty as they struggled to secure the release of the teenagers.
“It was a very painful period for us,” he said. “We were dealing with the death of our brother and at the same time trying to save his children.”
After the ransom was paid, the family was reportedly instructed to go to a specific location, where the twins were later released by their captors.
According to Mr Ilabeshi, the children were weak, tired and deeply traumatised by the experience.
“They were physically exhausted and emotionally shaken,” he said. “They had been held in the bush for days with little food and rest.”
He added that the twins were not immediately told about their father’s death after their release.
“They knew their father had been badly injured, but they did not know he had died,” he said. “When they eventually heard the news, they were devastated.”
The disagreement between the family and the police has raised questions about official claims of rescue operations in kidnapping cases. In many similar incidents across Nigeria, families have accused security agencies of taking credit for releases that were actually achieved through ransom payments.
While the police often avoid confirming ransom payments, citing policy reasons, families argue that such claims create a false picture of the security situation on the ground.
As of the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Command had not responded to the family’s latest claims.
The attack in Afokpella is part of a wider pattern of rising insecurity in parts of Edo State, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. Kidnapping for ransom has become a major concern in Etsako East and neighbouring local government areas.
Residents say armed groups often operate from nearby forests, targeting homes, farms and travellers. Many communities now rely heavily on local vigilante groups for protection, as fear continues to grow.
The death of Mr Andrew Ilabeshi has left a deep scar on Afokpella. Neighbours described him as a peaceful man and a devoted father who worked hard to support his family.
Community leaders say the attack has created fear among residents, with many now afraid to move freely at night or even stay in their homes.
“This incident has shaken us,” a community elder said. “If a man can be killed in his own house and his children taken away, then no one feels safe.”
Kidnapping remains a major security challenge across Nigeria, affecting states in the North, South and Middle Belt. Despite repeated assurances by government officials, many Nigerians continue to face the threat of abduction in their homes, on highways and even in schools.
For the Ilabeshi family, the focus is now on helping the twins recover from their ordeal and coping with the loss of their father.
“We are grateful that the children are alive,” Mr Ilabeshi said. “But the pain of losing their father and the trauma they went through will stay with us for a long time.”