Edo Police Arrest Three Suspects Behind Abduction of Medical Doctors

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of suspected kidnappers in connection with the abduction of two medical doctors’ brothers in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

Recall that the two medical doctors were abducted on January 2, 2026, at about 7:30 p.m. along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, in Auchi.

The two medical doctors are Abu Ibrahim Babatunde and his younger brother, Dr. Tahir Abu Emhoye.


While the abductors killed Dr. Tahir Abu Emhoye, a fresh medical doctor from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, his senior brother, Dr. Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a housemanship staff member at the Edo University Teaching Hospital, Auchi, was released on January 15, 2026, after the payment of a ₦50 million ransom.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in Benin City.

Ikoedem gave the names of the suspects as Saminu Kawujie, Idris Abubakar and Sani Abubakar.

She said Saminu Kawujie was arrested at Warrake Forest in Owan East Local Government Area on February 3, 2026, while Idris Abubakar and Sani Abubakar were arrested on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the Specialist Hospital, Auchi.

She said operatives of the Auchi Division, in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, intercepted Saminu Kawujie while conducting a routine bush-combing operation at Warrake Forest, following actionable intelligence.

Ikoedem added that when a search was conducted on the suspect, two knives, two mobile phones, one UBA ATM card, and the sum of ₦20,250 were recovered from him.

The Command’s image maker also added that an identification parade was conducted at the police station, and the suspect, Saminu Kawujie, was identified as one of the abductors of Dr. Abu Babatunde.

She further disclosed that on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at about 9 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer in Auchi, following a lead on the same case, mobilised operatives to the Specialist Hospital, Auchi, where two suspects identified as Idris Abubakar and Sani Abubakar were apprehended on the hospital premises.

She said both suspects have also been identified as part of the gang that abducted Dr. Babatunde on January 2, 2026.

According to her, “Idris Abubakar was identified as the person who received the ransom money for the release of Dr. Abu.”

The spokesperson of the Command assured that efforts have been intensified towards conducting a comprehensive and discreet investigation aimed at dismantling the entire notorious organised criminal network responsible for the kidnappings in Auchi and its environs.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Monday Agbonika, reassured members of the public of the Command’s resolve to pursue all kidnapping cases to a logical conclusion and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Agbonika also assured that aggressive bush-combing operations and intelligence-led policing across the state would be sustained.