Police arrest 13, rescue kidnap victims in Edo security sweep

The Edo State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its fight against crime with the arrest of 13 suspects linked to kidnapping and pipeline vandalism, alongside the rescue of three abducted persons in separate operations across the state.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer,  Eno Ikoedem, who said the operations were driven by actionable intelligence and swift, coordinated responses in parts of Esan West and Owan West Local Government Areas.

She said the actions formed part of ongoing security directives by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, aimed at dismantling criminal gangs and cutting off their escape routes.

According to the police, operatives of the Ekpoma Division swung into action on Monday, January 26, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., following intelligence on the vandalisation of a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited pipeline at Uhiele community.

“Operatives of Ekpoma Division immediately mobilised to the location and successfully arrested five suspects in connection with the act,” the statement said.

Police disclosed that an excavator allegedly deployed to damage the pipeline was recovered, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects and retrieve vandalised pipes already removed from the site.

In a related operation, the command said a large-scale bush-combing exercise was carried out in the Idoha/Ewu Forest and other suspected criminal hideouts in the early hours of Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The operation involved tactical police units, the command’s drone team, operatives of the Edo State Security Corps, as well as local hunters and vigilante groups.

“This resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the recovery of five mobile phones suspected to belong to kidnapped victims,” the statement noted.

Police said three makeshift tents believed to serve as kidnappers’ camps were also discovered, while investigations were ongoing to track down additional members of the syndicate.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at about 7:30 a.m., the police received a distress alert from Egoro Amende community in Ekpoma, reporting the abduction of a farmer and his two wives from their farmland located in a secluded area.

The Divisional Police Officer of Ekpoma Division was said to have led a joint rescue team comprising police officers, soldiers, personnel of the Edo State Security Corps, vigilantes, hunters and community youths.

“Upon sighting the advancing security operatives, the kidnappers abandoned the victims and fled,” the police said.

The three victims were rescued unharmed, while items recovered at the scene included cutlasses, a solar panel, torchlight, canvas, rope, palm oil and a face cap.

The police command reiterated its resolve to protect lives, property and critical national infrastructure across Edo State, urging residents to remain alert and continue to provide timely and credible information to support proactive policing.