The Edo State Police Command, working in concert with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, have rescued a family of four and three additional individuals abducted by armed men suspected to be kidnappers.
The victims were seized on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from farms located in the Ikeken Forest area of Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area, part of Edo’s central senatorial district.
The announcement came from ASP Eno Ikoedem, deputy spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, via a statement issued on Saturday in Benin City. She confirmed that the rescued victims — all unharmed — have since been united with their families.
The operation was triggered by a report from Enoch Omozokpia of Ikeken, Ewohimi, detailing that his 65-year-old father, Mr. William Omozokpia, and six others had been abducted from their farm in the Ikeken Forest by armed men.
In response, security forces mobilized a coordinated response, storming the forest in a carefully planned assault designed to neutralize the threat and recover the hostages. According to Ikoedem, the combined team conducted an intensive bush search that forced the abductors to abandon their captives and retreat into the surrounding vegetation.
The names released by the command identify the abducted as: William Akhabue, Innocent Ebarekor, Rachel Ebarekor, Efuah Ebarekor, Winner Ebarekor (minor), William Omozokpia, and Lucky Igiese, also known as Bulala. The Edo State Police Commissioner, Monday Agbonika, lauded the bravery and professionalism demonstrated by the police officers, soldiers, and vigilantes involved in the operation.
Commissioner Agbonika reaffirmed the police’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding residents, noting that efforts to track down the fleeing suspects would continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice. The command also reinforced a public appeal for vigilance, urging citizens to report any suspicious activity or persons to the nearest police station or via emergency lines.
As investigations continue, authorities are urging communities to remain calm while remaining vigilant, highlighting the importance of swift, coordinated responses in apprehending criminals and securing rural and farming zones, where residents rely on safety and stability to sustain livelihoods.