In Aviele, near Auchi, Edo State, a family is still grappling with the aftermath of a harrowing kidnapping that has gripped the community and sparked nationwide debate. On November 22, 2025, a married couple was abducted from their home by unidentified gunmen, who initially demanded ₦50 million as ransom, according to information gathered from social media and news reports.
The family, desperate to secure the release of their loved ones, managed to raise ₦20 million. The kidnappers, however, insisted that only the wife would be released, reportedly because she was pregnant.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, founder of the Safe City Volunteer Foundation, was called in to assist. He explained that his role was not to negotiate with the kidnappers, but to support the family in coordinating with police, military, and local vigilante groups.
“I don’t negotiate with kidnappers, my assistance is to follow them up using tech which the Police, Military, and local vigilantes are aware of,” Gwamnishu said in a public statement.
On the day of the ransom delivery, the family handed over the ₦20 million, but only the wife was released. Her husband remains in captivity. Those delivering the money reported that the kidnappers did not count the cash, only claiming that it was “incomplete” and instructing them to leave.
Following the partial release, tensions flared. A family member, Abdulganiyu Oseni, accused Gwamnishu of diverting funds, allegations that quickly spread across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. This led to Gwamnishu being briefly detained at the Auchi Police Station, despite a court rejecting a remand request.
Gwamnishu denied the accusations, emphasizing that the strategy had been fully communicated to authorities and that he had not stolen any money.
“They started a blame game, and right in DPO Auchi’s office I explained to them the strategies and plans we use. They said why didn’t I tell them. I said I did because I remember telling them we will work on the money, but how it’s going to happen is what is not supposed to be reviewed to anyone,” he said.
The case has intensified public conversations online about Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis, the role of private individuals in negotiating ransoms, and the urgent need for a coordinated response by authorities. Social media users continue to call for transparent accounting of ransom funds and the safe release of the still-held victim.
For now, the wife is safe, the husband remains in captivity, and the activist has pledged silence until the man is freed, leaving the community and the nation waiting for the next development in this tense ordeal.
