A heated public controversy has erupted in Edo State over the handling of a ransom paid for the release of a kidnapped couple — and the spotlight has fallen on human-rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu.
The case dates to November 22, 2025, when Mr. and Mrs. Segiru were abducted from their home in Aviele community near Auchi. Their captors initially demanded ₦50 million; the family, with contributions from well-wishers, negotiated the amount down to ₦20 million. Gwamnishu — founder of the Safe City Volunteer Foundation volunteered to mediate the ransom payment, offering a method he claimed would allow real-time tracking of the kidnappers in collaboration with police and vigilantes.
But the rescue attempt spiralled into conflict. According to a family member, only the wife was released after the ransom was delivered; the kidnappers insisted the money was incomplete, and the husband remains in captivity. The family accused Gwamnishu of diverting part of the ransom claiming he remitted only ₦5.4 million to police before fleeing.
In response, Gwamnishu and his lawyer have rejected those claims. They contend that the payment method involved mixing genuine cash with “prototype look-alike notes” embedded with a tracking chip because real banknotes cannot accommodate the device and that the removed real cash was handed over to police. According to the lawyer, Gwamnishu voluntarily submitted himself to investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin and offered to assist in tracing the kidnappers.
Despite the explanation, public reaction has been sharply divided. Some demand prosecution; others argue Gwamnishu deserves commendation for using innovative if risky tactics in an environment where security agencies are often overstretched.Meanwhile, the family of the abducted couple stands firm in their accusation that the ransom was mishandled.
As of now, the disputed ₦5.4 million remains in police custody, and no formal charges have been filed against Gwamnishu. The activist has called for an independent investigation and urged authorities to focus more on rescuing the still-detained victim rather than conducting a media trial.
This incident has ignited wider debate over the growing reliance on citizen-led mediation and tracking efforts in Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis and the blurred line between vigilantism, activism, and criminal liability when things go wrong.
