Police Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims in Edo Forest After Fierce Gun Duel with Abductors

Police Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims in Edo Forest After Fierce Gun Duel with Abductors

Edo State Police Command operatives, alongside local vigilantes and hunters, have successfully rescued 11 farm workers who were abducted by armed kidnappers in the Ogbido Community, Iyahmo, Edo North. All victims were recovered unhurt after a tactical operation that forced the suspects to abandon their captives and flee into the forest.

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 11 kidnapped victims in the Ogbido Community, Iyahmo, Edo North, following a distress call that triggered a swift and coordinated security response. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, the victims—nine males and two females—were abducted while working on their farms in the agrarian community. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at approximately 8:20 p.m., prompted an immediate intervention from the Iyahmo Divisional Police Headquarters.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led a combined team of police operatives, local vigilantes, and hunters into the surrounding forest where the kidnappers had taken their captives. The rescue team tracked the abductors to their hideout, leading to a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes. Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and tactical maneuvering of the security forces, the armed suspects abandoned the victims and fled deeper into the forest.

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Ikoedem confirmed that all 11 rescued persons were found unhurt and were immediately taken to a medical facility for routine health assessment. They have since been reunited with their families. The rescued individuals have been identified as Braimah Destiny, a 46-year-old male; Aruna Idris, a 38-year-old male; Abudu Sharafadeem, a 38-year-old male; Godwin Elizabeth, a 28-year-old female; James Favour, a 28-year-old female; Nonso Ana, a 30-year-old male; Abdulilia Ozigi, a 26-year-old male; Lambo James, a 27-year-old male; Wasia Abdul, a 48-year-old male; Lucky Emmanuel, a 24-year-old male; and Suleman Aliyu, a 25-year-old male.

In a statement, the Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Monday Agbonika, praised the bravery and professionalism displayed by the police operatives, vigilantes, and hunters who risked their lives to ensure the safe return of the victims. He reiterated that the command has intensified security operations across the region and remains resolute in its commitment to protecting lives and property. CP Agbonika also appealed to residents of Edo communities to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the ongoing battle against kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes in the state.

Efforts are currently underway to track down the fleeing suspects, with security patrols and intelligence-gathering operations ongoing in the area.

Police Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims in Edo Forest After Fierce Gun Duel with Abductors