Edo Police Arrest 113 Suspected Kidnappers in Major Overnight Raids

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