A social media activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, is facing public scrutiny following allegations that he diverted N4.5 million from funds raised to pay the ransom for a kidnapped couple in Edo State.
The victims, identified as Mr and Mrs Segiru, were abducted from their home in Aviele community near Auchi on November 22. Their kidnappers initially demanded N50 million, which the family later negotiated to N20 million.
Gwamnishu, who works as a security mediator through his Safe City Volunteer Foundation, volunteered to deliver the ransom to enable real-time tracking by security operatives. He previously served as senior special assistant on civil society and youth mobilisation to Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta State, before resigning in April over “government’s failure to act on security issues despite repeated warnings”.
According to AbdulGaniyu Ose, a relative of the victims, N20,050,000 was handed over to Gwamnishu. However, when the money reached the kidnappers, they allegedly claimed it was incomplete and released only the wife.
In an X post, Ose claimed the matter was reported to the Auchi area command, where Gwamnishu allegedly admitted taking part of the ransom. He reportedly refunded N5.4 million before allegedly fleeing the police station.
In a rebuttal on his X page, Gwamnishu said the family informed him that N20 million would secure the couple’s release.
“My work is to follow up with the money so we can get a real time location and get the military to the exact location as we’ve done in the past with evidence to back it up. They took the money to the kidnappers and they released only the woman and didn’t release the man,” he wrote.
“THE PEOPLE THAT WENT SAID THE MONEY WAS NOT COUNTED BY THE KIDNAPPERS TO KNOW IF IS BELOW N20,000,000 or above. They said the kidnappers only told them the money wasn’t complete and they should go. They returned back and started a blame game and right in DPO Auchi’s office, I explained to them the strategies and plans we use.
“They said why didn’t I tell them, I said I did cos I remember telling them we will work on the money but how its going to happen is what is not supposed to be reviewed to anyone. I have informed the authorities who brought me to Edo State and who understand better the strategy.”
Gwamnishu denied taking any part of the ransom and stated that he is willing to be investigated by both the police and the public.
Efforts to reach Moses Yamu, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.