Afegbua fires back at Edo PDP over kidnapping release, accuses opposition of sabotage

Benin, Edo – Edo State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has defended the APC-led administration's handling of a recent high-profile kidnapping while launching sharp accusations against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The remarks come amid ongoing debates over the release of Aisha Wahab, a young woman abducted in Auchi last month, and highlight deepening political rifts in the state.

Afegbua in a statement dismissed PDP criticisms as "beer parlour debates," praising Governor Monday Okpebholo's government for its "strategic intelligence" in securing Wahab's safe return without fanfare.

"Security operations do not permit noise-making or grandstanding, especially when lives are at stake," Afegbua wrote, contrasting the administration's discreet approach with what he called the PDP's preference for "cheap propaganda on television and social media."

Wahab, kidnapped on October 11 at Igbira Camp near Auchi by unknown gunmen, endured over two weeks in captivity. Her abductors demanded a ₦20 million ransom, issuing ultimatums and forcing her to record tearful pleas for help in viral videos that spread across social media.

Her distraught mother publicly appealed to Nigerians, including celebrity logistics manager Isreal DMW, for assistance in raising funds, as the family struggled to meet the deadline.

The young woman's release was confirmed on Saturday, October 25, after the ransom was reportedly paid, allowing her to reunite with her family in Okpella, another community in Etsako east Local Government Area.

However, activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who led volunteer efforts to track the kidnappers, accused state security agencies and the Edo government of ignoring repeated requests for collaboration, leaving civil groups to operate in isolation.

"We couldn’t move in to capture her abductors because the state security agencies... have repeatedly failed to respond," Gwamnishu stated, calling for better partnerships to combat the rising kidnappings plaguing the state.

Afegbua's response escalates the feud, portraying the PDP as "rooted in propaganda-driven governance" and blaming the party for the "rot and decay" inherited by Okpebholo's administration following the APC's victory in the September 2024 gubernatorial election.

He specifically referenced the 2024 kidnapping of PDP State Chairman Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, who was abducted near his Benin City residence on March 15 and held for 10 days before his release.

"Have they forgotten so soon that their own party chairman... was kidnapped under their watch?" Afegbua quipped, suggesting the incident exposed the PDP's own security failures.

The commissioner went further, alleging that PDP chieftains' pre-election threats to "burn down Edo State" if they lost the poll—uttered by figures like Edo NLC Chairman Odion Olaye—warrant investigation into potential links to ongoing insecurity.

"Their utterances alone justify scrutiny, and the suggestion that they may be masterminds of kidnapping activities... cannot be dismissed," Afegbua declared. He announced that PDP leaders are now "persons of interest," with security agencies alerted to probe possible conspiracies aimed at destabilizing the state.

This is not the first time political tensions have intertwined with security concerns in Edo. Since taking office, Governor Okpebholo has prioritized anti-crime measures, including the establishment of a Special Security Squad in July 2025 to target kidnappers and cultists, which has led to over 20 arrests in Benin City.

The governor also restructured the Edo State Security Corps for better professionalism and intelligence gathering.

Despite these efforts, residents continue to lament a surge in abductions, with critics like local activists accusing authorities of focusing more on political opponents than criminal networks.

PDP spokespersons have yet to respond directly to Afegbua's allegations as of press time, but the party has previously decried the state's security situation under Okpebholo, linking it to inherited challenges from prior administrations.

Rights groups, meanwhile, have urged all sides to prioritize victim support over partisan finger-pointing, emphasizing the need for transparent investigations into the Wahab case and broader kidnapping trends.

Afegbua concluded on a defiant note: "We remain proud of the strides Governor Monday Okpebholo has made in ensuring Edo State is safe and secure for all."