The lawmaker representing Igueben Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Inegbeboh Eugene, has denied claims by the Edo State Police Command and the State Security Corps that their operatives were responsible for rescuing the Onogie of Udo-Eguare Kingdom, Friday Ehizojie, from kidnappers.
The traditional ruler, along with five others, was abducted by gunmen on Sunday, February 3, 2025, while travelling on a motorcycle along a remote path in the Igueben Local Government Area. Days later, the police issued a statement announcing the monarch’s rescue, thanking vigilantes, hunters, and local residents for their support. Similarly, the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, also claimed credit for the rescue.
However, during a session of the state assembly on Monday, February 10, Eugene refuted these accounts, asserting that the monarch was not rescued by any security agency but was released after a ransom was paid by the community.
“Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to know that during the trying period, I personally informed the security agencies of the kidnapping of the traditional ruler,” Eugene stated. “The information was for them to see what they could do, but at the end of the day, I want to tell you that the security agencies that I informed were playing hide and seek as if they were doing something, but doing nothing."
He criticized the police and security corps for claiming credit without evidence of apprehending the culprits. “At the end of the day, none of them knew how the traditional ruler came back home, but only for them to come out now and start claiming the glory and taking pictures with him after his release. Some people even went to social media to claim that they were the ones that rescued him.
“How do you rescue a person from a kidnappers’ den without the culprit being apprehended? Did they just walk in there to bring the traditional ruler home? If they know the kidnappers, they should show us.
“Mr. Speaker, I make bold to say that even though they would not want to agree, it took the grace of God for my people to raise the ransom that brought our king back home. So, Mr. Speaker, nobody should claim the glory that they rescued him. It is wrong.”
Eugene extended gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo for his swift response and logistical support to security agencies during the crisis. However, he urged the Speaker to summon the new Commander of the State Security Corps to brief the assembly on the outfit’s efforts to tackle the state’s security challenges.