Eleven individuals on suspicion of kidnapping have been apprehended by agents of the Edo State Police Command.
The command spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said this in a statement that was made accessible to newsmen in Benin City on Monday, January 26, 2026,
In separate incidents that occurred on January 22 and 25, the individuals were apprehended in the Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts, according to Ikoedem.
According to her, four individuals were apprehended on January 25, 2026, during a well-coordinated operation involving the use of drones to search the jungle along the Era/Idoha forest axis in Ekpoma.
Hunters, vigilante groups, the Edo State Security Corps, the Drone Department, and tactical sections of the Police were all allegedly involved in the operation, according to her.
According to Ikoedem, the four individuals in question are Mohammed Lawal, Ashiru Ibrahim, Abubakar Umoru, and Umoru Ali.
In addition to the two locally made dane pistols and four mobile phones found on the suspects, she went on to say that other accomplices fled into the forest armed.
The image maker for the Command also said that on January 24, 2026, operatives from the Ewu Division, working with vigilantes and hunters, detained five individuals.
She claimed that the perpetrators were apprehended and forced out of their hiding place in Agbede’s Igun Forest, which allowed for the safe rescue of their unscathed victims.
A couple in the Ochodo Community were allegedly abducted by the accused, according to her.
The individuals named by Ikoedem as suspects are Isah Ibrahim, Usman Abubakar, Mohammed Abubakar, Suleiman Aruna, and Nura Ibrahim.
Among the things she mentioned that were found on the suspects were five Android phones, one Qlink motorcycle, nine empty shells and eight rounds of 9mm live ammo.
The command’s public relations officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said that Rabiu Mohammed Bello and Gehi Ibrahim were among the other suspects apprehended.
According to her, Gehi Ibrahim was detained for the abduction of 58-year-old Monday Adero from Iddo Quarters, Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area. Rabiu Mohammed Bello was apprehended after the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma, received reports of armed herders being seen at Idoha Pipeline Community in Esan West Local Government Area.
The 58-year-old farmer Monday Adero (M) of Iddo Quarters was abducted on January 22, 2026, while he was travelling to his farm, according to her. The incident took place in Okpella.
A well-coordinated operation combining hunters and vigilantes in tandem with the police was able to effectively rescue him.
The kidnappers got into a gun battle with the rescue crew as they were working in the forest along the Uluoke axis.
“The suspects were forced to leave by the superior response of the security operatives; one of the kidnappers was shot during this process.
After the victim was rescued, they were transported to a hospital for treatment.
The 24-year-old suspect, Gehi Ibrahim ‘M,’ was located and apprehended after being identified through medical tracking and intelligence. She assured them that he would face appropriate prosecution once he was taken into prison.
Other suspects escaped the scene with their cattle and firearms during the operation that resulted in the arrest of Rabiu Mohammed Bello in response to allegations of suspected armed herders.
Rabiu Mohammed Bello, who was just arrested, is currently the subject of an investigation.
According to her, discreet investigations would be conducted before all suspects are charged in a court of competent authority.