Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 11 suspected kidnappers in the State.
The spokesperson of the Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, January 26, 2026 in Benin City.
Ikoedem said the suspects were arrested at different locations in Edo North and Edo Central senatorial districts between January 22 and 25 respectively.
She said four suspects were arrested on Sunday, January 25, 2026,in a coordinated drone-assisted bush-combing operation carried out at the Era/Idoha forest axis in Ekpoma.
She said the operation involved Police tactical units, the Drone Department, Edo State Security Corps, hunters, and vigilante groups.
Ikoedem gave the names of the suspects as Mohammed Lawal, Ashiru Ibrahim, Abubakar Umoru and Umoru Ali.
She added that other accomplices escaped into the forest with arms while two locally fabricated dane guns and four mobile phones were recovered from the arrested suspects.
The Command’s image maker also disclosed that five suspects were arrested on January 24, 2026 by operatives attached to Ewu Division in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters.
She alleged that the suspects were engaged and dislodged from their hideout at Igun Forest, Agbede, leading to the rescue of their victims unhurt.
She said the suspects kidnapped a couple at the Ochodo Community.
Ikoedem gave the names of the suspects to include Nura Ibrahim, Suleiman Aruna, Usman Abubakar, Mohammed Abubakar and Isah Ibrahim.
She listed items recovered from the suspects to include eight rounds of 9mm live ammunition, nine empty shells, five Android phones and one Qlink motorcycle.
Other arrested suspects according to the Public Relations Officer of the Command,ASP Eno Ikoedem are Gehi Ibrahim and Rabiu Mohammed Bello.
She said while Gehi Ibrahim was arrested for the kidnapping of a 58-year-old identified as Monday Adero of Iddo Quarters, Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area, Rabiu Mohammed Bello was arrested following reports of suspected armed herders sighted at Idoha Pipeline Community in Esan West Local Government Area, by the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma.
According to her, In operation in Okpella, a 58-year-old farmer, Monday Adero (M) of Iddo Quarters, who was kidnapped while on his way to his farm on January 22, 2026.
“He was successfully rescued through a coordinated operation involving vigilantes and hunters working in collaboration with the Police.
“During the rescue operation in the forest at the Uluoke axis, the kidnappers engaged the rescuing team in a gun duel.
“The superior response of the security operatives forced the suspects to flee, during which one of the kidnappers sustained a gunshot injury.
“The victim was safely rescued and taken to a medical facility for treatment.
“Acting on intelligence and medical tracking, the injured suspect was subsequently traced, identified as Gehi Ibrahim ‘M’, aged 24 years, and arrested. He is currently in custody and will be prosecuted accordingly”, she said.
In the operation that led to the arrest of Rabiu Mohammed Bello following reports of suspected armed herders, other suspects fled the scene with their livestock and weapons.
The arrested Rabiu Mohammed Bello is currently undergoing investigation.
She said all the suspects would be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction after discreet investigations.
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