The Edo State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers—including a national of the Niger Republic—and neutralised another during separate operations across the state.
The command’s public relations officer, Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that one suspect was killed after a four-man gang engaged operatives in a gun duel.
She added that three other suspects fled the scene, but police operatives are already trailing them. Arms were also recovered from the gang’s hideout in a forest.
According to the statement, the operations followed earlier reports of increasing kidnapping incidents in communities within Edo Central Senatorial District.
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, had earlier led a strategic security deployment to the area, spending six days there between February 16 and 22, 2026, to assess the security situation and reposition personnel for improved policing.
During the exercise, forests around Ubiaja were identified as major security flashpoints and subsequently placed under intensified surveillance.
Following the deployment, the Ubiaja Division, under the supervision of its Divisional Police Officer, recorded several breakthroughs in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
One such success occurred on February 17, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m., when operatives arrested a suspected kidnapper, Suleman Harruna, a 28-year-old citizen of the Niger Republic who resides in Kaba, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Ikoedem said the suspect had earlier been declared wanted by the command and was identified by members of the Hausa/Fulani community as a member of a notorious kidnapping gang.
“The suspect made useful confessions and has been aiding the police in ongoing investigations,” she said.
In another operation on February 20, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m., operatives arrested another suspect, Ibrahim Kodo, 25, from Illushi, Edo State, Nigeria, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Army.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspect was identified by a kidnapping victim as one of three armed men who abducted him from his farm on June 2, 2025.
Similarly, on February 26, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., another suspected kidnapper, Orsee Iorzaa, 32, of Omi Camp, Illushi, Edo State, Nigeria, was arrested through surveillance based on intelligence.
A victim reportedly identified him as one of five armed men who invaded his home and abducted him on February 21, 2026. Police said investigations are ongoing to recover weapons used by the gang and apprehend other members.
In a more recent development on March 7, 2026, at about 8:25 a.m., police operatives, in collaboration with members of the Edo State Security Corps, carried out a bush-combing operation in the Onogholọ Forest, Edo State, Nigeria, and Akwocha Forest, Edo State, Nigeria.
During the operation, four suspected kidnappers reportedly opened fire on the security team but were overpowered by the operatives’ superior firepower. One suspect was neutralised in the ensuing gun battle, while three others escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered at the scene included a single-barrelled shotgun, a black facial mask, two live cartridges, and two expended cartridges. Police said bush-combing operations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation earlier reported by PUNCH Metro, the Edo State Police Command arrested 65 suspected kidnappers during a raid in Aviele, Etsako West LGA, Edo State, Nigeria.
During the raid on March 2 at about 2:45am, police recovered N1.85m suspected to be ransom proceeds, as well as uniforms belonging to the Nigerian Army and other incriminating items, following intelligence linking the area to kidnapping activities.
