Suspected Kidnappers Arrested in Edo as Police Step Up Security

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 11 suspected kidnappers across Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts between January 22 and 25, 2026.

According to ASP Eno Ikoedem, the arrests followed coordinated operations involving police tactical units, the Drone Department, Edo State Security Corps, hunters, and vigilante groups.

• January 25: Four suspects—Mohammed Lawal, Ashiru Ibrahim, Abubakar Umoru, and Umoru Ali—were arrested in the Era/Idoha forest axis during a drone-assisted bush-combing operation. Two locally fabricated dane guns and four mobile phones were recovered.

• January 24: Five suspects—Nura Ibrahim, Suleiman Aruna, Usman Abubakar, Mohammed Abubakar, and Isah Ibrahim—were apprehended in Igun Forest, Agbede, following the kidnapping of a couple in Ochodo Community. Recovered items included eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, nine empty shells, five Android phones, and one Qlink motorcycle.

• Other Arrests: Gehi Ibrahim was arrested for kidnapping a 58-year-old farmer, Monday Adero of Okpella, who was safely rescued during the operation. Rabiu Mohammed Bello was arrested after reports of armed herders in Idoha Pipeline Community; other suspects fled with weapons and livestock.

ASP Ikoedem said all suspects are in custody, investigations are ongoing, and they will be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction.