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Police, Soldiers In Mass Action In Edo Over Rampant Kidnapping
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/police-soldiers-in-mass-action-in-edo-over-rampant-kidnapping/
Day after the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika personally led troops of joint security operatives at the dead of the night to launch offensive attacks against kidnappers in the forest, the Commander, 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun also personally led troops of joint security operatives to the kidnappers' hideouts and launched massive military clearance and offensive actions against kidnappers, both security operations led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers allegedly caught in the act inside the bush, with the identities of the arrested suspects indicating that most of the kidnappers terrorising Edo State are from the far Northern part of Nigeria, an observation which appeared to have challenged the public policy statement made earlier in January 2026 by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo who stated that many of those involved in the kidnapping surge in Edo state are indigenes of the area, saying, that may be the reason some kidnappers wears facemasks, the governor made this statement as kidnapping in the state appeared to have become worse in 2026 and very rampant in a manner that indicated that an average of 1 to 2 persons are being kidnapped in a day in Edo state as more than 60 persons became new victims of the increasing criminal activities in the state since the beginning of 2026, like, in January 2, 2026, two brothers, Doctor Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a medical doctor on housemanship and Abu Tahir, a fresh graduate were kidnapped at the gate of their residence along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp in Auchi, the kidnappers initially demanded a ₦200 million ransom and tragically, on January 5, one of the two brothers was found dead, on January 9, 2026, 8 indigenes of Imoga community in the Akoko-Edo local government area of the state were abducted from a hotel along Ibillo road, since the start of 2026, Edo state has experienced a significant surge in kidnappings, leading to widespread protests at Ekpoma in the Edo Central senatorial zone with multiple police rescue operations including the incidents reported early February 2026, where police rescued 9 victims including 5 children and a separate group of 14 victims, this as that, earlier on January 22, 2026, a farmer named Monday Adero was kidnapped and later rescued and in late January, another farmer, Abraham Udewa, and his two wives, Brinda and Anna were abducted from Egoro Amende community but successfully rescued by security forces, in mid-January, Akhabhe Favour and a former student union leader were kidnapped in Edo central, troubled by the surge in kidnapping in the state, residents and students of Ambrose Alli University A.A.U staged a major protest on January 10, 2026, citing "daily kidnappings" and the abduction of a university professor and numerous students, on Februar
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/police-soldiers-in-mass-action-in-edo-over-rampant-kidnapping/
Day after the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika personally led troops of joint security operatives at the dead of the night to launch offensive attacks against kidnappers in the forest, the Commander, 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun also personally led troops of joint security operatives to the kidnappers' hideouts and launched massive military clearance and offensive actions against kidnappers, both security operations led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers allegedly caught in the act inside the bush, with the identities of the arrested suspects indicating that most of the kidnappers terrorising Edo State are from the far Northern part of Nigeria, an observation which appeared to have challenged the public policy statement made earlier in January 2026 by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo who stated that many of those involved in the kidnapping surge in Edo state are indigenes of the area, saying, that may be the reason some kidnappers wears facemasks, the governor made this statement as kidnapping in the state appeared to have become worse in 2026 and very rampant in a manner that indicated that an average of 1 to 2 persons are being kidnapped in a day in Edo state as more than 60 persons became new victims of the increasing criminal activities in the state since the beginning of 2026, like, in January 2, 2026, two brothers, Doctor Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a medical doctor on housemanship and Abu Tahir, a fresh graduate were kidnapped at the gate of their residence along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp in Auchi, the kidnappers initially demanded a ₦200 million ransom and tragically, on January 5, one of the two brothers was found dead, on January 9, 2026, 8 indigenes of Imoga community in the Akoko-Edo local government area of the state were abducted from a hotel along Ibillo road, since the start of 2026, Edo state has experienced a significant surge in kidnappings, leading to widespread protests at Ekpoma in the Edo Central senatorial zone with multiple police rescue operations including the incidents reported early February 2026, where police rescued 9 victims including 5 children and a separate group of 14 victims, this as that, earlier on January 22, 2026, a farmer named Monday Adero was kidnapped and later rescued and in late January, another farmer, Abraham Udewa, and his two wives, Brinda and Anna were abducted from Egoro Amende community but successfully rescued by security forces, in mid-January, Akhabhe Favour and a former student union leader were kidnapped in Edo central, troubled by the surge in kidnapping in the state, residents and students of Ambrose Alli University A.A.U staged a major protest on January 10, 2026, citing "daily kidnappings" and the abduction of a university professor and numerous students, on Februar
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00:00Day after the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonica personally led troops of joint security operatives at the dead of the night to launch offensive attacks against kidnappers in the forest.
00:12The Commander, 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun also personally led troops of joint security operatives to the kidnappers' hideouts and launched massive military clearance and offensive actions against kidnappers.
00:26Both security operations led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers allegedly caught in the act inside the bush, with the identities of the arrested suspects indicating that most of the kidnappers terrorizing Edo State are from the far northern part of Nigeria.
00:43An observation which appeared to have challenged the public policy statement made earlier in January 2026 by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okkabolo who stated that many of those involved in the kidnapping surge in Edo State are indigenes of the area, saying,
01:00that may be the reason some kidnappers wears face masks, the Governor made this statement as kidnapping in the state appeared to have become worse in 2026 and very rampant in a manner that indicated that an average of 1 to 2 persons are being kidnapped in a day in Edo State as more than 60 persons became new victims of the increasing criminal activities in the state since the beginning of 2026.
01:25Like, in January 2nd, 2026, two brothers, Dr. Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a medical doctor on housemanship and Abu Tahir, a fresh graduate were kidnapped at the gate of their residence along City Pride Road.
01:40Higbira Camp in Auchi, the kidnappers initially demanded a 200 million nairas ransom and tragically, on January 5th, one of the two brothers was found dead.
01:50On January 9th, 2026, eight indigenes of a Moga community in the Akoko Edo local government area of the state were abducted from a hotel along a billow road.
02:02Since the start of 2026, Edo State has experienced a significant surge in kidnappings,
02:08leading to widespread protests at Ikpoma in the Edo Central Senatorial Zone with multiple police rescue operations including the incidents reported early February 2026,
02:20where police rescued nine victims including five children and a separate group of 14 victims.
02:27This is that, earlier on January 22nd, 2026,
02:31A farmer named Munday Adaro was kidnapped and later rescued and in late January, another farmer, Abraham Udwa, and his two wives, Brinda and Anna were abducted from a Goro Amende community but successfully rescued by security forces.
02:46In mid-January, Ake Fever and a former student union leader were kidnapped in Edo Central, troubled by the surge in kidnapping in the state.
02:57Residents and students of Ambrose Alley University, AAU staged a major protest on January 10th, 2026,
03:06citing daily kidnappings and the abduction of a university professor and numerous students.
03:11On February 2nd, 2026, a family of nine was ambushed at Ekoa Beku Ioa Road in Ovia Northeast local government area and the kidnappers demanded a 260 million nairas ransom for four children and two women still held after five others were rescued or released.
03:30That aside, on January 31st, 2026, gunmen intercepted a commercial bus near Ekyodola, shooting the driver and taking passengers into the bush.
03:41Police later rescued 13 victims.
03:44In mid-January 2026, multiple residents in Iqpoma were abducted, including a victim captured on CCTV being taken from his compound.
03:53According to Captain Kennedy and Yanwu, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army,
04:05in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCBC, and the Edo State Security Corps,
04:16on the 4th of February 2026 conducted a clearance operation, codenamed Operation Igbo Danu 1 to neutralize, flush out terrorists, kidnappers and rescue victims of the Sara community in Etsuko West local government area as well as Auchi and Okpele communities all in Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State.
04:38During the operation, eight suspected kidnappers and illicit drug peddlers were arrested.
04:43The suspects were identified as Jamilu Muhammad, 25, Qasim Abu, 33, Rimo Afiz, 31, Suleiman Hamisu, 36, Lawan Umaru, 25, Bawa Awal, 24, Musa Umaru, 40, and Amodu Atai, 50.
05:04Weapons recovered from the suspects include one English auto-pump action gun, four live cartridges, and one locally made pistol.
05:11Other items seized were a point-of-sale, POS, machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, two Indian hemp-weighing scales,
05:26and quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud and collos.
05:33The sum of 87,550 nairas was also recovered.
05:39The suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.
05:46In a related development, troops of four brigade, in conjunction with the Edo State Police Command also combed the Avili Forest in Etsuko West local government area aimed at flushing out suspected terrorists and kidnappers.
05:59During the raid, five suspected kidnappers, Issyaka Abu Bakar, 37, Muhammad Abu Bakar, 25, Yusuf Abu Bakar, 24, Muhammad Somu, 20, and Issyaka Ibrahim, 30, were arrested.
06:16Items recovered from them include two motorcycles, two Android phones, and a power bank.
06:22The suspects and recovered items were also handed over to the police for further investigation.
06:28The commander, four brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balagun, who led the operations, commended the swift response and collaboration among the security agencies.
06:39He warned that Edo State will be untenable for terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements to carry out the nefarious activities.
06:47He also reaffirmed the brigade's commitment to safeguarding lives and properties in the state.
06:53He expressed appreciation to the general officer commanding, two division, Nigerian Army, Major General Shinidu Nebafay, for his strategic guidance and support.
07:04While ASP Edo State Police Command, public relations officer had stated that, in continuation of the joint clearance operations,
07:14a meticulously executed night operation that underscores the resolve of synergized security forces to confront crime at its roots was conducted.
07:22The Edo State Police Command, in the early hours of Tuesday the 3rd of February 2026, carried out a daring raid deep within the Akbede Forest,
07:33Etsuko West local government area of Edo State, leading to the arrest of six suspects.
07:39The operation was launched following a critical intelligence breakthrough provided by a kidnapped victim
07:44who was able to clearly identify the forest camp where he had been held captive.
07:49Acting decisively on this lead, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Munday Agbonica,
07:57personally led a formidable joint team comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army,
08:03the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, the Edo State Security Corps, ESSC,
08:11and local hunters into the heart of the forest under the cover of darkness.
08:15Demonstrating precision and determination, the joint team drove for approximately 3-3 hours until the end of the last accessible motorable road.
08:26From that point, the operatives advanced on foot, navigating dense forest paths and crossing 3-3 locally constructed wooden bridges to reach the identified camp.
08:36The silent advance, which lasted close to 2-2 additional hours, ensured tactical surprise and prevented any compromise of the mission.
08:47Upon arrival at the location at about 3.45 a.m., the area was swiftly cordoned off in a well-coordinated encirclement,
08:56effectively cutting off all escape routes.
08:58A thorough sweep of the camp resulted in the arrest of six suspects identified as
09:03Mikel Jendiga, male, aged 41 years, from Benawai State,
09:10Yusuf Abu Bakar, male, aged 34 years, from Kano State,
09:16Isyaka Abraham, male, aged 30 years, from Kogi State,
09:21Isyaka Abu Bakar, male, aged 37 years, from Kano State,
09:27Mohamed Sumo, male, aged 20 years, from Kano State,
09:32and Mohamed Abu Bakar, male, aged 25 years, from Kano State.
09:39The suspects are currently being profiled and subjected to intensive investigation by offices of the State Criminal Investigation Department,
09:47SCID, Benin City, for diligent prosecution.
09:52Describing the operation as a clear message to criminal elements,
09:55the Commissioner of Police commends the courage, discipline,
09:59and seamless inter-agency collaboration displayed by all personnel involved.
10:04He reaffirms the command's determination to take the fight against organized crime to the abode of suspected criminals
10:10at their most remote locations and warned that Edo State forests will no longer serve as safe havens for criminals.
10:17The Edo State Police command urges members of the public to remain vigilant
10:22and to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information,
10:27assuring citizens that sustained intelligence-led operations will remain a key strategy
10:32in securing lives and property across the state.
10:34For those who are on the team, bring them youth to need in a more digital way.
10:40For those who are on the team, bring them youth to need in a more digital way.
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