New Claims Deepen Ransom Dispute Involving Activist Harrison Gwamnishu and Family of Kidnapped Edo Couple

Fresh revelations have added new layers to the controversy surrounding human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, following claims attributed to his lawyer amid an ongoing investigation into a ransom delivery operation in Edo State.

The latest development surfaced after Ossai Ovie Success, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, posted an account on Facebook, reportedly relayed to him by Gwamnishu’s legal representative. This comes as social media remains flooded with allegations, counterclaims, and unverified testimonies suggesting the activist diverted funds intended as ransom for the release of a kidnapped couple.

Since Thursday, online platforms—especially X (formerly Twitter)—have been dominated by accusations that Gwamnishu “ran away” with part of the ransom reportedly paid for the release of a pregnant woman abducted alongside her husband in Edo State. A relative of the victims alleged that the activist withheld a portion of the money, sparking widespread outrage.

In response, Gwamnishu issued a short statement denying any wrongdoing and asserting that he voluntarily turned himself in to the Police. Despite this, the online debate has grown more intense, with some users calling for his arrest and others alleging a coordinated attempt to tarnish his reputation.

Account from the Lawyer

According to the version shared by Ossai, the lawyer explained that Gwamnishu typically conducts ransom operations by mixing real cash with prototype notes that contain an embedded tracking chip.

Because chips cannot be inserted into actual currency, the lawyer claimed, a portion of the real cash is removed and substituted with the prototype notes—money that is later returned to the victim’s family after the rescue.

A family member of the kidnapped couple was reportedly present during the preparation of the ransom money but later denied witnessing the process.

The lawyer further alleged that during the late-night ransom drop in the bush, masked bandits collected the money and released only the pregnant woman, keeping her husband hostage.

Afterwards, Gwamnishu was said to have accompanied the family to the Auchi Police Station, where questions were raised about the reduced amount of cash. According to the lawyer, Gwamnishu explained his tracking procedure and later handed over the removed money to the Police before departing.

He reportedly returned voluntarily to the Edo State Police Command (SCID) in Benin for further clarification.

The lawyer claimed that officers asked him to “act as though he was returning the money” for photographic documentation. The Police allegedly drafted a search warrant stating the cash was recovered from Gwamnishu’s hotel room—a claim the lawyer said he rejected, leading to Gwamnishu’s detention.

The narrative insists that reports of a 14-day detention order were false.

According to the lawyer, the tracking chip inside the prototype money is still active and Gwamnishu remains ready to assist the Police in locating the kidnappers and securing the release of the remaining victim.

The account also questioned the focus on Gwamnishu rather than efforts to rescue the kidnapped husband, stressing that the disputed N5.4 million is already in police custody. It suggested “bad blood” between the activist and certain influential individuals may be fuelling the online backlash. While acknowledging Gwamnishu’s past controversies, the lawyer argued he should not be condemned without a court verdict.

Concerns About Policing and Public Involvement

The lawyer’s narrative criticised what it described as the growing dependence on civilians to engage with armed criminals while security agencies remain passive. It also accused the victims’ family of paying more attention to shaping online opinions than aiding rescue operations.

The statement advised Gwamnishu not to re-enter the bush and insisted the Police must now lead the mission to retrieve the remaining victim.

As at the time of filing this report, attempts to reach the Edo State Police Command for an official statement were unsuccessful. The Police are yet to issue a detailed response addressing the various claims circulating online.

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