Kidnapping; Police Mum Over Allegation DPO Bringing People To Edo Illegally
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/kidnapping-police-mum-over-allegation-dpo-bringing-people-to-edo-illegally/
#Tahir #Ugboha #edo #Igp #Okpebholo #Police
Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has kept mum since a video went viral on social media platforms, wherein, allegation of bringing people illegally to settle inside forest in Edo State was made against the Divisional Police Officer, the DPO who is currently serving at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ugboha community in the Esan South-East local government area in the state, a state that have witnessed rampant cases of kidnappings in recent time, especially since the beginning of this year, despite the fact that the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has executed the destruction of numbers of houses or properties of apparent innocent landlords or people who may not have direct connection with the crime, it may be recalled that early 2025, the Governor demolished a residential property on College road simply because it was linked to a kidnapping gang operating in the Aduwawa, Eyaen, and Benin-Auchi road bypass axis, even when the building belonged to a woman based in Italy, just that, her brother, Osamede Asemota, the alleged key leader of the gang, allegedly used it to coordinate abductions, this is just one of many properties demolished by the Edo State government over kidnapping in the state, yet, records of kidnappings in the state continued to grow higher, and recent police and military arrests indicated that Edo State is perhaps under siege of foreign invaders who may have taken over larger part of the state forest to coordinate kidnappings in the state while working with some of the local residents to perpetuate the criminal act, it maybe interesting to note that; another set of non indigenes of the state arrested by the police recently included two persons caught inside the Specialist Hospital in Auchi, the two suspects who are said to be non indigenes of the state were among the gang of kidnappers behind the abduction of Doctor Abu Babatunde who regained his freedom after his family reportedly paid a sum of ₦50 million ransom after the Doctor and his younger brother were abducted on January 2, 2026, while opening the gate to their residence along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, Auchi, and unfortunately, the younger brother was later found dead on January 5 near the Orley River along City Pride Road, with police suspecting he was killed by the abductors, and the alleged illegal settlers who confessed the Ugboha DPO as their facilitator, are said to be non Nigerians from foreign countries. #OsazuwaAkonedo
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/kidnapping-police-mum-over-allegation-dpo-bringing-people-to-edo-illegally/
#Tahir #Ugboha #edo #Igp #Okpebholo #Police
Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has kept mum since a video went viral on social media platforms, wherein, allegation of bringing people illegally to settle inside forest in Edo State was made against the Divisional Police Officer, the DPO who is currently serving at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ugboha community in the Esan South-East local government area in the state, a state that have witnessed rampant cases of kidnappings in recent time, especially since the beginning of this year, despite the fact that the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has executed the destruction of numbers of houses or properties of apparent innocent landlords or people who may not have direct connection with the crime, it may be recalled that early 2025, the Governor demolished a residential property on College road simply because it was linked to a kidnapping gang operating in the Aduwawa, Eyaen, and Benin-Auchi road bypass axis, even when the building belonged to a woman based in Italy, just that, her brother, Osamede Asemota, the alleged key leader of the gang, allegedly used it to coordinate abductions, this is just one of many properties demolished by the Edo State government over kidnapping in the state, yet, records of kidnappings in the state continued to grow higher, and recent police and military arrests indicated that Edo State is perhaps under siege of foreign invaders who may have taken over larger part of the state forest to coordinate kidnappings in the state while working with some of the local residents to perpetuate the criminal act, it maybe interesting to note that; another set of non indigenes of the state arrested by the police recently included two persons caught inside the Specialist Hospital in Auchi, the two suspects who are said to be non indigenes of the state were among the gang of kidnappers behind the abduction of Doctor Abu Babatunde who regained his freedom after his family reportedly paid a sum of ₦50 million ransom after the Doctor and his younger brother were abducted on January 2, 2026, while opening the gate to their residence along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, Auchi, and unfortunately, the younger brother was later found dead on January 5 near the Orley River along City Pride Road, with police suspecting he was killed by the abductors, and the alleged illegal settlers who confessed the Ugboha DPO as their facilitator, are said to be non Nigerians from foreign countries. #OsazuwaAkonedo
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00:00Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokan has kept mum since her video went viral on social media platforms, wherein, allegation of bringing people illegally to settle inside forest in Edo State was made against the Divisional Police Officer, the DPO who is currently serving at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Uboha Community in the Essen Southeast Local Government Area in the state,
00:29a state that have witnessed rampant cases of kidnappings in recent time, especially since the beginning of this year, despite the fact that the Edo State Governor, Munday Okpabolo has executed the destruction of numbers of houses or properties of apparent innocent landlords or people who may not have direct connection with the crime, it may be recalled that early 2025, the governor demolished a residential property on College Road simply because it was linked to a kidnapping gang operation
00:59in the Aduawa, Iyan, and Beninauchi Road bypass axis, even when the building belonged to a woman based in Italy, just that, her brother, Osamede Asimota, the alleged key leader of the gang, allegedly used it to coordinate abductions, this is just one of many properties demolished by the Edo State Government over kidnapping in the state, yet, records of kidnappings in the state continued to grow higher,
01:25and recent police and military arrests indicated that Edo State is perhaps under siege of foreign invaders who may have taken over larger part of the state forest to coordinate kidnappings in the state while working with some of the local residents to perpetuate the criminal act,
01:42it may be interesting to note that, another set of non-indigenes of the state arrested by the police recently included two persons caught inside the specialist hospital in Auchi,
01:53the two suspects who were said to be non-indigenes of the state were among the gang of kidnappers behind the abduction of Dr. Abu Babatunde who regained his freedom after his family reportedly paid a sum of 50 million nairas ransom
02:07after the doctor and his younger brother were abducted on January 2nd, 2026, while opening the gate to their residence along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, Auchi,
02:19and unfortunately, the younger brother was later found dead on January 5th near the Oli River along City Pride Road,
02:27with police suspecting he was killed by the abductors, and the alleged illegal settlers who confessed the Ugboha DPO as their facilitator,
02:35are said to be non-Nigerians from foreign countries. According to one of the vigilantes who caught the illegal settlers,
02:42the arrested illegal settlers in the forest will be taken to the station. The vigilante member also said the illegal settlers are not Nigerians,
02:51and close watchers said people are brought in and smuggled into Edo forests illegally and such people may be responsible for the act of kidnapping in the state.
03:00Available records indicated that the kidnapping situation in the state is currently happening almost daily with numbers of the state residents
03:08and indigenes also recorded dead or killed by kidnappers since Governor Munday Okpebolo came into power.
03:15On the recent arrest of two suspects at the specialist hospital in Auchi,
03:20the Edo State Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikiodom,
03:24the first breakthrough came on the 3rd of February 2026, operatives of the Auchi Division,
03:30while conducting a routine bush-combing operation in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups,
03:37at Warrake Forest, and, following a lead on an intelligence, intercepted one Samanu Kawuji,
03:43male, and, a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two knives,
03:48two mobile phones, one UBO ATM card, and the sum of 20,250 Naira.
03:56An identification parade was conducted at the police station and he was identified by one of the abductors of Dr. Abu Babatunde.
04:05Similarly, on the 8th of February 2026 at about 9 o'clock hours,
04:11the divisional police officer, following a lead on the same case mobilized operatives to the specialist hospital,
04:17Auchi, where two suspects identified as Idris Abu Bakar, male, and Sani Abu Bakar, male,
04:24were apprehended at the hospital premises.
04:27Both suspects have also been identified as part of the gang that abducted Dr. Babatunde on February 1st, 2026.
04:36Idris Abu Bakar was identified as the particular person who received ransom money for the release of Dr. Abu.
04:42Efforts have been intensified towards conducting a comprehensive and discreet investigation aimed at dismantling the entire notorious organized criminal network
04:52responsible for the kidnappings in Auchi and its environs.
04:56The Commissioner of Police, Hido State Command, CP Munday Agbonica, reassures members of the public of the command's resolve to pursue all kidnapping cases to a logical conclusion
05:08and bring perpetrators to justice, while sustaining aggressive bushcombing operations and intelligence-led policing across the state.
05:15The command can be reached on the following numbers, emergency control room numbers, 08077773721 and 08037646272 and for complaints.
05:36Public Complaints Bureau, PCB 081509999335.
05:47Complaints Response Unit, CRU 081003899992.
05:57Meanwhile, a lecturer with the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Issa Abdulaziz had earlier on Sunday,
06:04posted on his Facebook wall that, Dr. Abu Babatunde, reported for duty today, Sunday February 8, 2026,
06:12at the Edo State University Teaching Hospital, unaware that his routine workday would reopen one of the darkest chapters of his life.
06:20While on ward rounds, Dr. Babatunde, noticed some individuals who had come to visit a patient.
06:26In a chilling moment of recognition, he identified among the members of the same kidnapping gang that abducted him and his younger brother,
06:35a tragic incident that ended with the killing of his brother while attempting to escape from the den.
06:41Acting swiftly, Dr. Babatunde, immediately alerted the local security outfit, popularly known as the Vigilante.
06:48However, under circumstances that remain unclear, the information reportedly leaked to the police before the Vigilante team could arrive.
06:58Police officers moved in promptly, arresting two of the suspects and detaining them today, Sunday February 8, 2026,
07:06at the Divisional Police Station in Auchi.
07:09Fresh accounts emerging today further deepened the case.
07:12One of the individuals who participated in delivering the ransom that secured, Dr. Babatunde's, release has identified one of the arrested suspects
07:21as being among those who physically received the ransom on the day the payment was made.
07:26Another report indicates that, just last night, the two suspects carried out POS transactions at a stand with Inouchi,
07:34raising fresh questions about the source of the funds.
07:37A significant sum of money was allegedly found in their possession at the time of arrest today,
07:43an amount investigators believe is inconsistent with the known means and strongly suggestive of criminal activity.
07:50As this report is being filed today, credible sources confirm that pressure is already being mounted on the Divisional Police Officer in Auchi to release the suspects.
08:00This development has sparked widespread concern within the community.
08:04Notably, during a recent meeting with Auchi youth bodies,
08:08the DPO was reportedly overheard stating that the case had become widely publicized and could no longer be swept under the carpet,
08:16an indication that attempts may already be underway to compromise the process.
08:21For a community long traumatized by kidnapping and violent crime, today's arrests represent a critical moment.
08:28The people of Auchi and its environs are watching closely.
08:32The Edo State Government must now take decisive responsibility.
08:36Governor Munday Okkabolo is urged to ensure that investigations are thorough and transparent and that,
08:42if the suspects are found guilty,
08:44the full weight of the Edo State Anti-Kidnapping Law is applied without interference.
08:49Justice for Dr. Abu Babatunde, for his murdered brother,
08:54and for countless victims across Edo North must not be delayed or denied.
08:59Today must mark a turning point, not another missed opportunity.
09:03The Edo State Government
09:33DPO carried their control during the school.
09:35At the police now,
09:36You know,
09:38this community,
09:39are you in Nigeria?
09:40Nigeria.
09:41Huh?
09:41are you in Nigeria?
09:42Why don't they tell me,
09:43let me see your ID card.
09:44Lead the ID card, come.
09:45Give me.
09:48Call the person here,
09:48you want to call.
09:52DPO.
09:53DPO for what?
09:55Okay.
09:56DPO.
09:57You're DPO for what?
09:58Policy.
09:59No, sorry.
10:00No, no, no.
10:00I'm going to cut your neck now.
10:02That's not the people I'm going to press.
10:04Hey, you have to hit me.
10:06Hey, what's up?
10:08Why did you put your death here?
10:10I'm going to go.
10:12Hey, I'm going to go.
10:14Hey, I'm going to go.
10:16Hey, I'm going to go.
10:18Hey, my brother.
10:20Hey, my brother.
10:22I'm going to go.
10:24What do you want to talk about?
10:26I'm going to go.
10:28Hey, I'm going to go.
10:30Hey, I'm going to go.
10:32I'm going to go.
10:34You know what I'm going to do now?
10:36I'm going to go drop in the first station.
10:42They're looking at me.
10:44They look at me.
10:46They look at me.
10:48Look at me.
10:50The news in a more digital way
10:56podcast is so much.
10:57Oh my God.
10:58Thank you guys.
11:00This is a great program.
11:02Have a great program.
11:04It's a great program.
11:06Thank you very much.
11:08That's a great program.
11:10It really is about 30 stars and this year,
11:14the one of the other businesses,
11:15and the ones will come to see
11:17what happens and it will come.
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