Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Operatives of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) in Benin City have apprehended a suspected kidnapper who, according to preliminary media reports, claimed involvement in as many as 25 abductions across the state. The arrest forms part of intensified year‑end security operations by the ESSC and allied agencies to stem rising incidents of violent crime, including kidnappings for ransom that have plagued communities in Edo State throughout 2025.
Details emerging from ESSC sources indicate that the suspect was taken into custody during targeted patrols and intelligence‑led enforcement activities aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in abductions and related offences. In an apparent confession recorded shortly after his arrest, the man allegedly admitted to participating in a significant number of kidnapping incidents — a claim that, if verified by investigators, could expose the breadth of organised criminal activity operating within and beyond Edo’s borders.
The arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on kidnapping and other violent crimes across Edo State in 2025, during which police and security forces have reported numerous successes. According to official figures released in recent days, the Edo State Police Command arrested 821 suspects and rescued 377 kidnapped victims over the course of the year, as part of sustained intelligence‑driven operations and enhanced security deployments ahead of the Christmas and New Year period.
Kidnapping remains a serious security challenge in Edo, with authorities noting that criminal gangs — sometimes operating across state lines — exploit ungoverned spaces such as forested areas and poorly secured highways to abduct civilians for ransom. Community leaders and security analysts have repeatedly called for improved collaboration between residents and law enforcement to help curb the menace by sharing timely information and reporting suspicious movements to security agencies.
While the suspect’s claim of involvement in 25 kidnappings has not yet been independently verified by formal statements from the ESSC or the Edo State Police Command, the arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by state security apparatuses to dismantle kidnappers’ networks. Past operations in Edo — including joint task force actions and police raids — have led to the rescue of abduction victims, arrests of suspects, and recovery of weapons used in criminal operations.
Authorities are expected to subject the arrested suspect to thorough interrogation and investigation, working alongside the state police and other enforcement units to determine the veracity of his claims. If substantiated, such admissions could assist in identifying patterns of criminal activity and linking multiple cases currently under investigation. For families affected by abductions in Edo and neighbouring states, such breakthroughs offer a measure of hope that perpetrators will be held to account.
Security officials have urged the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement, emphasising that community engagement and intelligence sharing are vital to dismantling networks that perpetuate kidnapping for ransom and related crimes. They reiterated that sustained vigilance and timely reporting can help prevent abductions and support the safe recovery of victims.
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