The Edo State Police Command has announced the rescue of 62 kidnap victims and the arrest of 40 suspected kidnappers during a three-month crackdown on violent crimes. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Agbonika, revealed this information during a press briefing held in Benin City on Monday.
The rescued victims, including women and children, were freed as a result of coordinated intelligence-led operations, community support, and inter-agency collaboration across volatile areas of the state, according to Agbonika.
He highlighted a recent operation where police tactical teams, vigilante groups, and hunters rescued 14 passengers abducted on the Fugar-Agenebode road. Sadly, a 12-year-old girl was killed by the kidnappers, and one person remains missing. Efforts are underway to locate and rescue the missing individual.
The Command has made significant progress in weakening the operational capabilities of criminals, including kidnappers operating in the forests around Ewohimi, Fugar, Okpella, Uromi, Agenebode, and along the Benin-Lagos expressway.
Additionally, 11 suspects were arrested for armed robbery and other violent crimes, with several caught in the act. Exhibits recovered include firearms, stolen vehicles, electronics, and large sums of money. An armed robbery suspect was killed during an operation on the Auchi-Okpella expressway, where a fabricated shotgun, four live cartridges, and five expended ones were recovered.
The police also recovered 45 assorted firearms, ranging from AK-47 rifles to locally made pistols and pump-action guns, along with 163 rounds of live ammunition and five empty magazines.
These recoveries were made through stop-and-search operations, raids on criminal hideouts, and intelligence-led swoops across Benin, Auchi, Uromi, Iyamho, and Ekpoma.
Cultism remains a persistent threat to public safety, particularly in urban centers and host communities to tertiary institutions. 124 suspected cultists have been arrested in the past three months, with many confessing to belonging to proscribed confraternities.
46 suspects were apprehended with firearms in Benin, while others were arrested in various locations with dangerous weapons and cult paraphernalia. These efforts have helped reduce cult-related violence in the state.
Agbonika emphasized the importance of community engagement in policing, noting that the command had deepened ties with traditional rulers, youth leaders, and faith-based institutions. He also acknowledged the critical role of local vigilantes and hunters in the command’s recent successes.
As the senatorial and federal constituency by-elections approach, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security has been activated to guarantee peaceful and secure polls. Agbonika appealed for continued public support and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to the safety of all residents.
