The lawmaker representing Igueben Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Inegbeboh Eugene, has faulted claims by police that they secured the release of the Onogie of Udo-Eguare kingdom in Igueben Local Government Area, Friday Ehizojie, from kidnappers.
The traditional ruler alongside five others were abducted on Sunday, February 3, 2025, while on a motorcycle along a lonely path leading to the community.
Subsequent to Ehizojie’s release days after, the police credited itself for the monarch’s freedom.
Speaking on the floor of the assembly on Monday, Eugene refuted the claim made by the police, saying the feat was achieved by ransom payment.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
