In the heart of Benin City, steps away from the towering walls of the Central Bank of Nigeria, a ₦60 million ransom was handed over in broad daylight. The location? UBA Bank, Akpakpava Branch. The occasion? The release of six kidnapped victims held hostage for four harrowing days by a gang of armed men led by a runaway soldier and Fulani herdsmen. The most unsettling detail? Not a single police officer intervened.
This is not just a story of criminal audacity—it is a damning indictment of law enforcement inertia, and possibly, complicity.
The abduction occurred on September 5, along the Benin–Akure Road, between Ogbojobo and Osasinwoba—mere meters from police checkpoints and just 10 kilometres from the Edo State Police Command Headquarters. The kidnappers fired shots, dragged their victims into the forest, and vanished. Six passengers were taken, including Lady Grace Okaighe, a serving Superintendent of Police.
Despite the proximity to law enforcement infrastructure, the gang operated with impunity. The ransom was negotiated openly, and the gang’s point man, Mr. Abu, maintained direct contact with the victims’ families. He collected the money in person, in a public banking facility, without fear of arrest.
Kingsley Obasohan, one of the freed victims, did not mince words. “It’s unfortunate that Nigeria has descended to the abyss of no return… I’m disappointed in the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who is merely occupying the office to fulfill all righteousness,” he said. His frustration echoes a growing sentiment among Nigerians: that the police are more focused on harassing civilians than protecting them.
Complacency or Complicity?
The facts beg the question: was this a case of complacency or complicity? Complacency would suggest negligence, poor coordination, or a lack of resources. Complicity, however, implies something darker—collusion, protection, or deliberate inaction.
Given the visibility of the ransom exchange, the known identities of the kidnappers, and the absence of any tactical response, the line between the two becomes dangerously blurred.
This incident is not isolated. It reflects a systemic failure in Nigeria’s security architecture, where criminal gangs operate with increasing boldness, and citizens are left to fend for themselves. The normalisation of ransom payments only fuels the kidnapping economy, emboldening perpetrators and weakening public trust.
The Edo State Police Command must be held accountable for its silence and inaction. The Nigerian public deserves transparency, reform, and above all, protection. Until then, stories like this will continue to haunt the headlines—and the conscience of a nation.
