Edo: 87 suspected kidnappers arrested, 30 victims rescued in 1 month

The Edo State Police Commissioner, Monday Agbonika, has announced that the command arrested 87 suspected kidnappers and rescued 30 victims in the month of January 2026. Agbonika disclosed this in Benin City, stating that the suspects were apprehended at various criminal hideouts in forests and flashpoints across the Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts. […]

The Edo State Police Commissioner, Monday Agbonika, has announced that the command arrested 87 suspected kidnappers and rescued 30 victims in the month of January 2026.

Agbonika disclosed this in Benin City, stating that the suspects were apprehended at various criminal hideouts in forests and flashpoints across the Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts.

He noted that the operations were conducted in synergy with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Edo State Security Corps, and local hunters.

Beyond kidnapping-related arrests, the Commissioner explained that the command also apprehended 13 murder suspects, 14 suspected armed robbers, and 15 suspected cultists during the period under review.

The arms recovered during the operations include fabricated AK-47 rifles, a standard AK-47 rifle, 28 Dane guns, cut-to-size single-barreled shotguns, a pistol, and live cartridges. According to the Commissioner, the command further recovered six stolen vehicles, three stolen motorcycles, and 39 stolen mobile phones.