Harrison Gwamnishu: Activism, Arrest, and the Ransom Money Scandal
Harrison Emefiena Gwamnishu is a prominent Nigerian human rights activist, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist, born on 17 July 1989 in Ubulu Ukwu, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Biography and Advocacy
- Age: Born in 1989, making him 36 years old as of 2025.
- State of Origin: Delta State, Nigeria.
- Organization: He is the founder of the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, which he has used since 2017 to advocate for social justice issues.
- Key Focus: Gwamnishu is primarily known for his work in raising awareness about wrongful incarceration, harsh conditions faced by prisoners in Nigerian jails, and advocating for legal and prison system reforms. His work is often fueled by his own experience of having spent four years in prison for a crime he stated he did not commit.
- Political Involvement: He was a candidate for the Labour Party for the Delta State House of Assembly elections in 2023. He later served as the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and Youth Mobilization to the Delta State Governor, but resigned in April 2025.
Recent News: The Edo Couple Ransom Allegations and Arrest
In a major controversy, the activist was recently taken into police custody over allegations concerning ransom money for an abducted couple in Edo State.
The Ransom Fund Controversy
Gwamnishu was publicly accused of taking or deducting a significant portion of the ransom money raised by the victims’ family.
- The Claim: A man in a video accused Harrison Gwamnishu of deducting ₦5.4 million from the ₦20 million the family had raised as ransom for the abducted couple.
- The Deduction: Other reports stated Gwamnishu was accused of taking ₦5 million out of the ₦20 million ransom intended for the kidnappers.
- Police Involvement: Gwamnishu was subsequently reported to be in police custody and undergoing interrogation.
- Money Returned: A witness noted that the money Gwamnishu allegedly tried to keep has since been returned to the police by him, and his vehicle remains at the police station.
The VeryDarkMan (VDM) Factor
The controversy escalated when social critic VeryDarkMan (Martins Otse) revealed his direct involvement in Gwamnishu’s legal predicament.
- Initiation of Arrest: VDM publicly claimed, “In all honesty, I initiated the call that lead to his arrest”.
- VDM’s Rationale: VDM stated that he did not want the matter to be online until two things happened: the guy who introduced Gwamnishu to the family spoke out to clear his name, and to address a “gaslighting video” Gwamnishu had made.
The controversy has drawn public scrutiny, with one person expressing disappointment: “We trusted you but could this be the work of the devil for pemming part of the money meant for the release of the couples?”.
