A joint task force comprising operatives of the Edo State Police Command, Edo State Security Corps, hunters, and vigilante groups has arrested eight suspected kidnappers in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to journalists in Benin City on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
According to Ikoedem, the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids on the Idoha/Ewu forest and other identified hideouts in the early hours of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at about 3:30 a.m. The operation was carried out by the command’s tactical teams in collaboration with the drone unit, Edo State Security Corps, hunters, and vigilante members.
She said the operation involved coordinated bush-combing in line with the directives of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Agbonika.
She named the suspects as Jokoro Sali, Buhari Ibrahim, Isah Abubakar, Shehu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Samar, Ibrahim Shaibu, Mohammed Joro, and Suleiman Unana.
Ikoedem added that three tents suspected to be kidnappers’ camps were discovered during the exercise, leading to the arrest of the eight suspects.
She said five mobile phones suspected to belong to kidnapped victims were recovered.
She added that investigations are ongoing to uncover and arrest other members of the syndicate.
