Edo Police Arrest 113 Suspected Kidnappers in Major Overnight Raids

The Edo State Police Command has arrested 113 suspected kidnappers during coordinated security raids across Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as part of an intensified crackdown on kidnapping and related criminal networks in the state.

The arrests were confirmed on Thursday in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who said the operation was carried out in the early hours of the day, at about 3:00 a.m., following actionable intelligence.

According to the statement, security agencies uncovered credible information indicating that ransom payments from kidnapping operations were being coordinated and received at designated locations popularly known as “zangos” in Agbede and Iruekpen.

Acting on the intelligence, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, personally led a joint task force operation involving operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups, and local hunters.

Police said the coordinated raids targeted settlements where suspected kidnappers and their collaborators allegedly converged to receive ransom proceeds, regroup, and blend with unsuspecting members of the public. The operation resulted in the arrest of 113 suspects, all of whom are currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to establish individual levels of involvement.

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The command said suspects found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, adding that investigations are ongoing to uncover wider kidnapping cells, financial channels, and logistics networks operating within and outside Edo State.

Agbonika reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain an unrelenting and uncompromising offensive against kidnapping syndicates, stressing that the fight would go beyond armed elements hiding in forests to include financial sponsors, informants, and logistics providers.

He assured residents that security agencies would continue to disrupt criminal supply chains, dismantle safe havens, and intensify patrols across flashpoints identified through intelligence reports.

The police operation comes amid heightened public concern following a recent deadly attack in Iduah Kingdom, located in Esan West Local Government Area. Days before the raids, gunmen reportedly attacked the residence of a palace chief, resulting in multiple casualties.

Sources said Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi was shot at close range during the attack, while his wife sustained severe machete injuries. Two of the chief’s daughters were also reportedly abducted and later killed by their captors, a development that sparked outrage and renewed calls for decisive security action.

A son of the family, identified as Lucky, reportedly said the attack occurred while he was away from home, adding that the assailants struck swiftly before escaping.

Reacting to the developments, the Edo State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence, assuring the public that all information shared would be treated with strict confidentiality.

“The Edo State Police Command remains firm, proactive, and battle-ready to safeguard lives and property. There will be no hiding place for kidnappers or their collaborators anywhere in the state,” Agbonika said.

Edo Police Arrest 113 Suspected Kidnappers in Major Overnight Raids

Police Arrest Six Fake Pastors Over Staged Miracles in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested six men accused of posing as pastors and defrauding residents of Idanre and neighbouring communities through staged miracles and fake religious activities.

The suspects — Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola, and Ademola — were apprehended during an intelligence-driven operation carried out on February 16, 2026, by Community Safety Officers in collaboration with tactical units of the command.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Kazeem, the arrests followed weeks of surveillance after security agencies received credible reports about a suspected fraud syndicate operating under the guise of religious ministry in Idanre and its environs.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly set up temporary worship centres, where they staged scripted miracles, prophecies, and spiritual interventions to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims. Some members of the group reportedly acted as planted “converts” or “testifiers,” claiming instant healing or breakthroughs to convince others of the group’s supposed divine powers.

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Authorities said the suspects exploited people’s faith, desperation, and vulnerabilities, promising divine solutions to financial hardship, health challenges, infertility, and personal struggles, while collecting money under labels such as “seed sowing,” “special prayers,” and “deliverance fees.”

Further findings showed that the group operated in a well-coordinated and organised manner, with each suspect assigned specific roles, including lead preaching, crowd mobilisation, and fund collection, creating what police described as a convincing façade of legitimacy.

Items recovered during the operation reportedly include religious garments, anointing oils, prayer handbills, mobile phones, and written materials suspected to contain scripted miracle plans and financial records linked to the alleged scams.

Police said investigations are ongoing to determine the total number of victims, assess the financial scale of the fraud, and identify additional collaborators who may still be at large.

The suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Ondo State Police Command has warned members of the public to exercise caution and due diligence, particularly when dealing with individuals or groups that use religion, spirituality, or miracle claims as a cover for illegal activities. Residents were urged to report suspicious religious or financial schemes to the nearest police station.

Police Arrest Six Fake Pastors Over Staged Miracles in Ondo

Kaduna Residents Storm Govt House, Demand Probe of El‑Rufai

Hundreds of Kaduna State residents on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Government House in Kaduna metropolis, demanding answers over the disappearance of lecturer Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, and calling for a public audit of former Governor Nasir El‑Rufai’s administration.

The protesters, composed of youths, women, and community members, gathered at the UTC roundabout before marching to the state’s seat of power, chanting solidarity slogans and carrying placards. Some of the messages read “We demand public scrutiny, audit now,” “Malam Nasir El‑Rufai, where is Dadiyata?” and “Publish loan agreement and spending breakdown now.” Other placards demanded justice, stating “Kaduna lived in fear, we want the truth,” and “Sponsoring protest cannot protect El‑Rufai; he must face prosecution.”

Dadiyata, a social media commentator and lecturer, was abducted from his Kaduna residence in 2019 by unknown gunmen and has not been seen since. His disappearance remains a controversial unresolved case, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from both the government and security agencies.

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Addressing journalists during the protest, protest leader Anas Yusuf emphasized that the demonstration was non-partisan, aimed solely at promoting justice and accountability. He highlighted insecurity during the previous administration, noting:

“Kaduna bled. Communities were attacked, Birnin Gwari faced isolation, banditry escalated, citizens were kidnapped, families buried loved ones, and fear became normal. Former Governor Nasir El‑Rufai must answer hard questions.”

Another protest leader, Comrade Joseph Chori, described Dadiyata’s disappearance as “an open wound” for Kaduna residents, saying:

“A family still waits. Kaduna still asks: what happened?”

The protesters also demanded an independent public security audit of the El‑Rufai administration and called for full disclosure of the $350 million World Bank loan obtained during his tenure, insisting the loan agreement and spending breakdown be made public.

“Loans are not free money. Public debt demands public accountability because citizens will repay that debt. They deserve transparency,” the group stated.

Former Governor El‑Rufai has denied involvement in Dadiyata’s disappearance, previously stating that the lecturer was a critic of another state government and not linked to his Kaduna administration.

While the protest remained largely peaceful, organizers stressed their action was intended to strengthen democracy and promote justice, not to incite division. They urged authorities to act transparently and ensure accountability for past misgovernance, while praising the relative calm under current Governor Uba Sani.

“We will not allow destabilisation to shield anyone from scrutiny. This is not revenge; this is justice and democracy. Kaduna deserves better, and Kaduna will demand it,” the protesters affirmed.

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