Edo Kidnapping: Arrest of Suspects Exposes Alleged Insider Network, Criminal Hideout

Edo Kidnapping: Arrest of Suspects Exposes Alleged Insider Network, Criminal Hideout

A chilling kidnapping case in Edo State has exposed an alleged network of insider collaboration, drug-related activities, and a suspected criminal hideout after security operatives arrested nine suspected kidnappers in a coordinated operation.

The development comes amid rising insecurity across parts of Edo Central, including Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Irrua and surrounding communities, where residents say kidnappings and killings have become increasingly frequent and brutal.

The case gained widespread attention following the killing of 30-year-old entrepreneur Justin Otene, popularly known as “Jusewayne,” owner of the fast-food outlet Principal Takeout in Ekpoma. He was reportedly attacked at his home in the Idumebo area after resisting abduction by armed men and was killed just days before his child’s dedication ceremony.

Residents say his death is part of a disturbing pattern of repeated kidnappings and killings in the region, which has left many families devastated and communities on edge.

In Ubiaja, Esan South-West Local Government Area, residents also pointed to earlier cases where a young man was kidnapped and killed last year, with his younger brother reportedly suffering a similar fate this year. Similar incidents have been recorded in parts of Etsako East, Akoko-Edo and other areas of Edo State.

Attention later shifted to a heavily fenced property in Ubiaja owned by a man identified as Jerry Okoyomo. The building, described by residents as resembling a fortified compound, allegedly raised suspicion due to restricted movement, unusual night activity, and claims that it was being used as a cover for cattle rearing.

Community members also alleged that the owner conducted high-value transactions in cash, bypassing normal banking channels, further heightening suspicion around the property.

Following a kidnapping incident in Irrua, security operatives arrested nine suspected kidnappers believed to be part of a wider criminal syndicate operating across the state.

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During interrogation by the Edo State Special Security Squad, the suspects allegedly linked their operations to the Ubiaja property, claiming it served as a coordination centre where ransom negotiations were conducted, communication was managed, and escape routes were planned.

Security officials described the house as a suspected operational base used for kidnapping activities and, allegedly, drug-related operations.

Acting on intelligence gathered during investigations, the state government ordered the demolition of the property. The structure was subsequently pulled down using earthmoving equipment in the presence of security operatives and cheering residents who said the building had long been a source of fear in the community.

Chairman of the Special Security Squad, Noah Paddy Idemudia, confirmed that the building was identified during investigations into recent kidnapping cases and said preliminary findings linked it to both kidnapping and illegal drug activities. He also warned landlords across the state to properly profile tenants to avoid providing safe havens for criminals.

In a separate account, a victim of the kidnapping gang narrated her ordeal, describing how she was held in a forest camp, threatened, and forced to watch her captors assemble a newly acquired firearm during negotiations. She said the kidnappers demanded a ₦10 million ransom, but her family could only raise ₦3 million, and she was threatened with death during the standoff.

One of the arrested suspects, Musa Mohammadu, reportedly claimed he was deceived into travelling from northern Nigeria under the guise of a cattle-rearing job, only to later discover he had been recruited into a kidnapping network.

Meanwhile, the alleged property owner, Jerry Okoyomo, is said to have denied involvement in kidnapping activities but did not dispute the demolition of his building, reportedly insisting that he was only involved in illicit drug dealings.

Security analysts say the case highlights a growing pattern of organized kidnapping networks, possible insider collaboration, and the use of disguised properties as operational bases in parts of Edo State.

Authorities have intensified security operations in the affected areas while urging residents to report suspicious movements as investigations continue.

Edo Kidnapping: Arrest of Suspects Exposes Alleged Insider Network, Criminal Hideout