The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed allegations that a Divisional Police Officer in Edo State released a suspected kidnapper who was later rearrested after being identified by his victim at a hospital in Auchi.
NGGOSSIPS Metro gathered that the claims stemmed from a viral social media video posted by an activist known as “Mr Common Sense,” who accused police officers of complicity in kidnappings along the Auchi area of the state.
The controversy centres on the arrest of three suspects linked to the January 2, 2026, kidnapping of Dr Ibrahim Tahir and his brother, Abu, near Igbira Camp in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area. The kidnappers reportedly killed Abu and later released Tahir after a N50m ransom was paid.
Two of the suspects, identified as Idris Abubakar and Sani Abubakar, were subsequently apprehended at the Auchi Specialist Hospital after Tahir allegedly recognised them when they visited a relative. Idris was said to have been the person who received the ransom.
In the viral video, the activist claimed that one of the suspects had earlier been arrested by vigilantes in March 2025 and handed over to the Agbede Divisional Police Station, but was released by the DPO, identified simply as MC Donald.
Displaying a photograph of the suspect from the earlier arrest, the activist alleged that vigilantes transferred the suspect to the police because they lacked legal authority to detain him further.
“The vigilantes handed him over to the Agbede Divisional Police Station. The DPO, known as McDonald, received him. Now we are shocked to see that this same person was released and allegedly returned to kidnapping,” he claimed.
Reacting to the allegations on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, denied any wrongdoing, stressing that arrests must be backed by evidence before prosecution could proceed.
“The issue is not arrest. Anybody can arrest, but the police must investigate. If, after investigation, someone is found culpable, we proceed to prosecution. But if the person is not found culpable, we must release them. Keeping such a person in detention would amount to trampling on their human rights,” Hundeyin said.
He explained that during the earlier incident, the suspect was released on bail following a preliminary investigation that reportedly yielded no incriminating evidence.
“He was not caught with a firearm or ammunition. He was not apprehended with any victim. There was nothing linking him to the kidnapping at that time. In such circumstances, the police are obliged to grant bail to a reliable surety,” he added.
Hundeyin also cautioned against ethnic profiling in the wake of the allegations.
“We need to caution people against saying Fulani plus forest equals kidnapper. That is wrong and dangerous. Not every Fulani man in the forest is a criminal. Such profiling can fuel ethnic tension and unnecessary suspicion,” he said.
The police spokesperson, however, confirmed that the suspects are currently in custody, adding that investigators now have sufficient evidence, including victim identification and confessional statements.
“Now that there is clear evidence, he has been arrested and has not been released, unlike the earlier instance when there was no proof,” Hundeyin stated.
He maintained that the police would not shield any suspect where credible evidence exists.
“There is no way a police officer will have solid evidence and fail to prosecute. If people are passionate about justice, they must also allow time for thorough investigation so that cases brought before the court are foolproof,” he said.
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