Edo State Police have exhumed the bodies of two women kidnapped in Ovia North-East Local Government Area on May 9, 2026. The victims, 66-year-old Mrs Favour Nosakhare and 28-year-old Mrs Emmanuel Annabel Osasere, were abducted alongside 26-year-old Miss Rejoice Otikpere when armed men stormed their residence. The Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the recovery of the bodies on June 2, 2026, following the arrest of a 23-year-old suspect, Musa Haruna.
Haruna, a member of a kidnapping syndicate operating along the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure roads, was apprehended after a gunfight with police on May 19, 2026. During interrogation, he confessed to his role in the abduction and led police to a forest in Ogwa Community where the decomposing bodies were found. One of the victims, Mrs Favour Nosakhare, had reportedly been killed despite her family paying N11 million in ransom and fulfilling additional demands.
The kidnappers had contacted the families via video call days after the abduction, showing the women being flogged and tortured while demanding payment. The Edo Police Violent Crime Response Unit, supported by the Drone Unit, conducted surveillance and rescue operations in forests and known hideouts. A blood-stained jacket and spent AK-47 rounds were recovered at the scene of the shootout.
Miss Annabelle Emmanuel, daughter of Mrs Favour Nosakhare, confirmed the ransom payment. Haruna, who identified as a cattle herder, claimed he was recruited by a gang member known as "Doctor" and alleged the seven-member syndicate carried out multiple kidnappings in the region. Police investigations continue to track down the remaining suspects.
The family paid N11 million ransom for Mrs Favour Nosakhare's release, yet she was still killed by her abductors. This shows that compliance with kidnappers' demands offers no guarantee of survival. The payment, made under duress, became a transaction with no return. Nigerians facing similar horrors are left with impossible choices and no protection.
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