The Edo State Special Security Squad, under the operation codename “Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, has successfully dismantled five suspected kidnapper camps in Edo North Senatorial District following an extensive bush-combing exercise in Ekeke Erah Forest, Owan East Local Government Area.
Coordinated by the Principal Security Officer (PSO) to the Governor, the operation involved collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local vigilante groups, and other sister security agencies. Security operatives trekked nearly five kilometers into the forest, between Afuze and Ora, uncovering and destroying the camps.
Eribo Ewanta, a member of the Squad, confirmed that signs of recent activity indicated the camps were actively used. “We discovered five camps, with fire still burning and a pot of food left on the fire. This confirms the presence of suspected kidnappers in this area,” he stated.
The operation reportedly escalated into an exchange of gunfire at a riverbank when suspects, alerted to the security incursion, attempted to evade capture. Evidence of cattle grazing in the forest raised suspicions that the hideouts may have been linked to armed herdsmen.
Ewanta assured Edo residents that the operation is the start of sustained efforts to eliminate kidnappers and other violent groups from the state. “We are battle-ready. The Governor’s directive is clear: Edo must be free of criminal elements. We will pursue them relentlessly until they are apprehended,” he said.
The security officer also commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for his unwavering commitment to fortifying security across Edo State, noting that the coordinated strategy is restoring public confidence and sending a clear message to criminal networks.
📩 Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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