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Tag: Edo police

  • Edo Police arrest 11 kidnap-suspects

    Edo Police arrest 11 kidnap-suspects

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 11 kidnap-suspects in Ekpoma.

     This is coming after a reorganisation of the Ekpoma Division.

    The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who relocated to Ekpoma for the past five days, had approved the posting of Chief Superintendent of Police Tomofe Nwabueze to assume duty as the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

    Recall that protests had broken out in Ekpoma last weekend over kidnappings and killings.

    Edo Police spokesman, Eno Ikoedem, said the first breakthrough was the arrest of an 18-year-old girl, Obehi Odine, who kidnapped herself and demanded N10 million ransom.

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    She said the suspect was kidnapped on Monday on Old INEC Road, Ekpoma, and that the new DPO swung into action, deployed resources to track the caller.

    Ikoedem said a bush comb in Ubiaja showed a concealed forest enclave.

    She said their operatives stormed a suspected kidnapping and logistics base and arrested the 11 suspects believed to be members of a kidnap syndicate.

    Exhibits recovered, according to her, were 24 dane guns, 17 cutlasses, three battle axes, gun powder, torches, mobile phones, solar panels, charms, one Daylong motorcycle, and N209,700.

    She added that the CP warned against false kidnap reports, among others.

     noting that anyone caught engaged in such acts would be prosecuted.

  • Family counters Edo police claim, says ransom paid for release of abducted twins

    Family counters Edo police claim, says ransom paid for release of abducted twins

    The family of the twins abducted following the brutal murder of their father has challenged the Edo State Police Command’s statement that the children were rescued unharmed.

    The twins were abducted on December 11, 2025, after armed assailants attacked their apartment at Kalabar Quarters, Afokpella, in Estako East Local Government Area, leaving their father, Mr. Andrew Ilabeshi, with machete injuries. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N100 million.

    Edo Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem had stated that a combined security team rescued the twins unhurt.

    However, the deceased’s brother, Okhale Ilabeshi, clarified that the children were released only after a substantial ransom was paid.

    He added that the twins were further traumatised upon learning of their father’s death after their release.

    According to him, “The twins were not rescued. We paid ransom to the kidnappers. Nobody rescued them. The kidnappers kept calling us. After the ransom was paid, the kidnappers asked us to go somewhere, and the twins were found there.

    “They were kidnapped on 11th December. After their release, they were tired and exhausted. They were shocked and disappointed by the news of their father’s death. They were aware their father was badly injured, but never knew he had died.

    “The community has been fortifying the vigilante, but that has not been enough. We need assistance from the state government and the federal government to curb kidnappings.” 

  • Police rescue 10 kidnapped students, two others in Edo

    Police rescue 10 kidnapped students, two others in Edo

    The Edo State Police Command has rescued ten students who were abducted on their way to Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, for the annual Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC), Africa conference. 

    The students were kidnapped on April 16 at a location along the Edo-Ondo state border.

    In a separate operation, police also rescued two women who were abducted after gunmen shot and fatally wounded the husband of one of the victims at Oluoke in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo North Senatorial District. 

    The man was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty.

    Confirming the rescue of the students, the Police Public Relations Officer in Edo State, CSP Moses Yamu, said in a statement: “Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, immediately deployed operatives from the Ohosu Division, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), tactical squads, local vigilante members, and hunters into the bush to rescue the victims and apprehend the suspects.”

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    “During the operation, operatives engaged in a gun duel with the kidnappers. In the process, one of the kidnappers was neutralised (killed), while others escaped with bullet wounds. The operatives were cautious to avoid collateral damage, as the kidnappers used the victims as human shield. Unfortunately, an Inspector of Police sustained gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment. 

    “This rescue efforts eventually paid off, as the ten kidnapped students comprising eight males and females were released due to intense pressure mounted on them.”

    Yamu disclosed that two suspects: Binigolo Ebimene, 25, and Mathew Denwei, 27, were also arrested following a distress call that they robbed their victim of his motorcycle and his phones at Malim Camp, Gbelebu in Ovia Southwest LGA of Edo state.

    Preliminary investigation, according to the PPRO, revealed that the two suspects, who were arrested with a locally-fabricated pistol, two headlamps and the motorcycle earlier robbed, had been terrorising farmers and commuters in the axis, while the suspects confessed to the crime, and would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded. 

    Edo commissioner of police warned all miscreants in the state that there would be no hiding place for them, while declaring that the criminals should either repent, relocate from his area of responsibility, or face the consequences. 

    He urged Edo residents to shun crime and report suspicious persons, movements or objects to the police. 

    On the two rescued women, Yamu stated in a press statement on Sunday morning that the case was reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Iyamho in Etsako West LGA of Edo.

    The PPRO disclosed that in a swift response, the DPO, anti-kidnapping team stationed at Edo North, and operation rescue team, in company with vigilance members and hunters mobilised, and went after the kidnappers, in order to rescue the victims and arrest the kidnappers.

    The resilience and determination of the operatives, according to Yamu, led to the rescue of the two women: Esther Friday, 32, and Joy Iregbeyen, 23, whom the kidnappers abandoned and ran away, because of the mounting pressure by the security teams. 

    The PPRO noted that quite unfortunately, the kidnappers shot one of the women on the foot out of frustration, but she is currently responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital, with Edo commissioner of police working asidiously on strategies that would cub further crime and deter criminals.

  • Edo Police rescue abducted 14-month-old baby

    Edo Police rescue abducted 14-month-old baby

    Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have successfully rescued a 14-month-old baby, Grace Osamagbe, who was abducted by her nanny, Rejoice Chukwu, in April.

    Commissioner of Police Umoru Ozigi told newsmen on Saturday in Benin that the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit arrested Chukwu, 24, and her boyfriend, Destiny Uchechukwu, 28, in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

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    According to Ozigi, the suspects abducted the child in Benin and collected a ransom of N160,000.

    “In spite of receiving the ransom, the suspects allegedly sold the baby for N500,000 to Doris Chiwendu in Owerri, Imo State.

    “Following intense interrogation, police tracked down Chiwendu and another suspect, Jane Amaigbo, in Ubomiri, Imo State, and rescued the baby on November 9.”

    The police commissioner explained that the suspects would soon be charged to court.

  • Edo police station attack: Security beefed up in Afuze

    The Federal Government has beefed up security in Afuze, headquarters of Owan East local government area of Edo state following the bombing of the Divisional Police Command in the locality by unknown gunmen.

    Soldiers and other security operatives including anti-riot mobile policemen, officials of the Directorate of the State Service (DSS) and National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were drafted to Afuze as back up security in the area.

    When our reporter visited Afuze, heavy security presence was seen in front of the police station. Ten patrol vans were stationed outside while a show of force was carried by a combined security team.

    Hunters and vigilante groups in the locality were said to have been mobilised to trail the gunmen.

    Four police officers, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ojo Kosenami and an expectant police officer, Sergeant Justina Aghomon, Inspector Sado Isaac and Corporal Glory David were killed in the attack.

    Details of how they were killed have emerged as it was gathered that the gunmen asked them to remove their uniforms before killing them.

    Sources said the gunmen locked the corpses in a room and left.

    According to the source, “We thought everybody escaped until a policeman forced a locked door open and we saw their dead bodies.”

    It was gathered that the attack took place a day after soldiers deployed to the area for election duties left.

    Another source said the casualties would have been higher if the explosives thrown at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had exploded.

    The source said many ad hoc staff were at the premises collecting their election allowances when the gunmen attacked.

    At the residence of one of the victims, Inspector Sadoh, his children were seen setting up condolence register even as they demand justice for their father.

    His second son, Pastor Louis, said their father was looking towards retirement.

    Read Also: Edo: Gunmen attack Police Station, kill DPO, three officers

    Pastor Louis said their father worked hard to cater for them since their mother died four years ago.

    He said his father stood for justice and peace and had uncovered many crimes in his career.

    “My father loved Justice. He has unearthed many case. The Police should also find his killers and prosecute them.”

    Secretary to Owan East council, Mr. Godwin Imoudu, said an alert of an impending attack was raised before the election.

    He said the entire people of the council were mourning the sad event, and described the late DPO as a quintessential police man who stood for peace and had worked tirelessly towards the peaceful coexistence of all segments of people of the council.

    Imoudu recalled that the late DPO (Tosimani Ojo) who was a member of the council’s peace and security committee, “was very neutral during the just concluded elections“.

  • Man dies after police insist on N20, 000 for bail

    He died in the hospital- police

    A 45-year old man, Osifo Okeguare, has reportedly died in police cell at the Ekpoma Divisional Police headquarters in Esan West local government areas.

    It was gathered the police detained him after his family could not raise the N20, 000 demanded to release him on bail.

    An activist, Mr. Kola Edokpayi, alleged that the family raised N15, 000 but the IPO in charge of case insisted on keeping the deceased.

    But spokesman for the Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the late Osifo and one Richard Femi, on February 10, 2019, were arrested while attempting to steal a motorcycle where it was parked.

    Read Also: Mother, daughter in police net over baby theft

    DSP Nwabuzor said Osifo took ill while in police cell and was taken to the Eremosele hospital in Ekpoma for treatment where he later died.

    Nwabuzor said his corpse was deposited at the Iruekpen General hospital for autopsy examination.

    He appealed to members of the family to remain calm and law abiding until the autopsy examination is made known.

  • Herbalist arrested for duping victim of N6m

    Herbalist arrested for duping victim of N6m

    An herbalist in Osun State, Usman Mohammed, has been arrested by policemen in Edo State for duping his victim of N6 million.

    The victim allegedly gave the herbalist the money and asked him to help increase it to N12million.

    Mohammed told journalists at the Edo State police command headquarters that his victim was duped because she was looking for “what she did not keep.”

    The herbalist confirmed that he received N3million from the N6million while he shared the remaining to other members of his team.

    He said: “I live in Osun State. I was arrested in Osun State. She is from Benin. She patronized my office because I do medicine for her. Before she requested for money ritual, she said I should do something to make her business to grow.

    “When she requested for money rituals I said she must bring the money. She said she has N6 million. I told her to bring a big bag and the money. I told her to keep the bag somewhere and the money will double to N12 million. That was what she requested for.

    “She kept the bag in her room for three days and the day she opened it, there was no money inside. I told her she was responsible for the inability of the money to increase. I got N3million. Other people ran away. She is looking for what she did not keep. She is ole.”

     

  • Edo police boss to don: you lied

    Edo police boss to don: you lied

    Edo State Police Commissioner Mr. Haliru Gwandu has described as lies, allegations by Prof. Sunday Edeko that he was brutalised by men of the anti-cult unit.

    Edeko, the dean, Faculty of Law, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in a publication alleged he was beaten up at Ekpoma and detained for hours until the intervention of prominent individuals.

    He said the policemen attacked him because he asked a suspect, who was in their van, why he was being arrested.

    The don said the statements he wrote were torn by the policemen and he was forced to write an apology letter.

    Gwandu said the incident occurred on March 17, when his men arrested cultists for allegedly beheading two students.

    He said four suspects, including Dennis Aghidi, were arrested in connection with the incident.

    The police boss said the suspects were arraigned and remanded in prison custody.

    He said on March 20, the police got a tip-off that Dennis and other cultists were seen at a notorious joint holding a meeting for a possible attack on a rival cult.

    His words: “We deployed the anti-cult unit and Dennis was nabbed. We thought he was still in prison. While he was arrested and being taken away, the lecturer blocked the police vehicle.

    “He said he wanted to know why the suspect was arrested. My men did not molest him or beat him up. Edeko went to the police station and met the DPO.

    “He said he was at the station to know why policemen operated in the area. The DPO explained the action of the unit and the lecturer apologised. He even wrote an apology letter.

    “As a learned person, it is expected that he should do things with decorum. My doors are open. There was never a time he came to complain to me about the conduct of my men.

    “The inspector-general of police is committed to democratic policing. He will not condone criminals in uniform. Wrongful detention and corruption will not be tolerated. It is a lie.”

  • Suspected Ghanaian trafficker nabbed in Edo

    A Ghanian (names withheld) who was returning five trafficked girls to their communities in Akwa Ibom State has been nabbed in Benin City.

    The suspected trafficker was nabbed by security agents in a hotel at Oluku where he lodged with the girls.

    After refusing to talk for some minutes, he later opened up that the girls were taken to Burkina Faso by his wife for them to work in a restaurant.

    He said the girls were instead made to hustle or what he termed ‘ashawo work’.

    His words, “My wife took the girls to Burkina Faso for them to work at a restaurant but converted them to hustle.”

    The trafficked girls said they slept with between 10 and 14 men daily and that they made N30, 000 which was collected by their madam.

    One of them said she was made to swear not to tell her relatives that she was made to engage in prostitution.

    She said the madam told them that her husband would give them money in Nigeria but that her husband gave them N11, 500 for transportation.

    “After working money which covered the transport she spent to take us to Burkina Faso, she decided to send us to Nigeria.”

    The sixth victim was said to have died and buried in Burkina Faso.

    When contacted for comments, spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, Theodore Okafor confirmed the arrest and said investigations were still on.

  • Homosexuality: Police arrest six persons in Edo

    Six persons suspected to be practicing homosexuality have been arrested by police in Edo State.

    They were nabbed at different parts of the state.

    Names of the suspects were given as Festus Osagiede (24), Hyacinth Imahanrebhor (20), Itama Omon (25), Onwukwe Prince (28), Monye Chukwuma (23) and Osadebe Kelvin‎ (26).

    They were paraded by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, AIG Musa Daura.

    Daura said the suspects confessed that they have been practicing homo sexuality since 2006.

    The AIG noted that Osagiede, the leader of the group, lured Omon into the act after attending a night club in 2006.

    Daura said, “After the third suspect (Itama) got drunk, Festus Osagiede invited him to his house and forcefully had carnal knowledge of him.

    “Since then, they have been committing the crime with others at large until May, 2016, when luck ran out of them and they were swooped on by zonal detectives.”