113 suspected kidnappers arrested in Edo

Thursday, February 26 2026 - The Edo State Police Command said it arrested no fewer than 113 suspected kidnappers in a day in the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday 26, 2026 in Benin City.

Ikoedem said the suspects were arrested on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at about 3 am at “Zangos”, in Agbede and Iruekpen in joint operation with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, vigilante groups, and local hunters.

She said the arrested suspects are currently undergoing thorough profiling to ascertain their level of involvement.

She said the suspects and their collaborators were arrested at identified zango settlements in Agbede and Iruekpen where they converged to receive ransom payments.

According to the statement, in a daring, intelligence-driven operation carried out in the early hours of today, at about 0300hrs of 26th February, 2026, the Edo State Police Command, under the decisive and result-oriented leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika launched a massive joint security sweep across strategic locations in Edo Central.

“Acting on credible intelligence that ransom proceeds from kidnapping activities were being discreetly received and coordinated at identified “Zangos” in Agbede and Iruekpen.

“The Commissioner of Police personally led a formidable joint task force comprising operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, vigilante groups, and local hunters in a synchronized enforcement action.

“Coordinated raids on the identified zango settlements in Agbede and Iruekpen were carried out where actionable intelligence indicated that suspected kidnappers and their collaborators converge to receive ransom payments, regroup, and blend with unsuspecting members of the public.

“The precision raids yielded the arrest of a total of one hundred and thirteen (113) suspects. All suspects are currently undergoing thorough profiling to ascertain their level of involvement.

“Those found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law”, she said.

Meanwhile the State Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika has reiterated that the Command’s onslaught against kidnapping organised networks will remain relentless and uncompromising.

Agbonika emphasized that the Police will not only target armed elements in the forests but will equally intensify efforts to degrade their financial and human support systems across the State.

He, however, called on residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring that all intelligence received will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

He posited that the Command remains firm, proactive, and battle-ready to safeguard lives and property, just as he warned that there would be no sanctuary for kidnappers or their collaborators anywhere in Edo State.