9th February, 2025
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Police Command says its operatives have successfully rescued one Osazee Okungbowa from the grip of his abductors.
The Command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Sunday, said the victim was kidnapped at his residence, located at Power Line area of Owanoba Community, on Friday, February 7, 2025.
He was however rescued unhurt on Saturday, 8 February, 2025, by operatives of Ologbo Division.
Yamu said the victim has been “reunited with his family after receiving medical attention, while the Command continues with the trail of the five-man kidnapping suspects.”
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old suspected member of Vikings Cult group, Kelly Osayawe, has been arrested for shooting and injuring a man standing in front of his shop.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 7, 2025, along Old Road, off College Road, Aduwawa, Benin City.
Police source had it that the suspect was invited by another suspected member of Vikings, simply identified as Nice, to his mother’s burial ceremony.
“During the burial procession, the said Kelly Osayawe ‘m’ who is armed with locally made cut to size pistol loaded with four (4) live cartridges firing shots into the air, shot one Mr. Nzube Cletus Mbum who was standing in front of his shop and the pellet cause him injury on his hand, leg and back.
“The said Kelly Osayawe ‘m’ made an attempt to run away but was chased and apprehended with assistance from members of the public,” Yamu said in a statement.
In another incident, operatives of Okuaihe Division of the Command also recovered a snatched silver-colored Toyota Yaris with registration no BEN 535 DR.
The vehicle was reportedly snatched at gun point from its owner on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at about 2 pm, along Upper Mission Extension, Benin.
Operatives of Okuaihe Division later intercepted and chased the car snatcher, who eventually abandoned the car at Iguomon Community, along Benin-Agbor Road. following a distress call on
“The vehicle was recovered to the station, owner identified and vehicle handed over to him. Efforts to identify and arrest the suspects is ongoing,” Yamu said.
The State Commissioner of Police, Betty Enekpen Otimenyin, while calling for more support for the police, urged the general public to “see-something, say-something for a safer Edo through emergency Control Room numbers: 08077773721 and 08037646272.
