Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a major security operation in Edo State, a joint team of the Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies has arrested six suspected kidnappers following a night-time raid on a forest hideout in Agbede Forest, Etsako East Local Government Area. The operation, conducted on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, was launched after a kidnapped victim provided crucial intelligence that enabled security forces to pinpoint the location of the criminal camp deep inside the forest.
According to the Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, the arrested suspects were apprehended after operatives navigated dense forest terrain under the cover of darkness. The intelligence-led mission was initiated when the victim, recently released or escaped, was able to clearly identify the camp where he had been held, offering security forces a breakthrough lead. Acting on this information, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, personally led a joint team comprising officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), and local hunters into the forest.
Operatives reportedly travelled for approximately three hours by vehicle to the last accessible road, after which they advanced on foot for nearly two hours through dense forest paths to reach the suspects’ camp. Upon arrival shortly before dawn, the area was cordoned off and a coordinated sweep led to the arrest of six men believed to be involved in kidnapping activities.
The six suspects have been named and are now undergoing profiling and intensive investigation by detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin City as part of efforts to prepare for their prosecution. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether victims remained in captivity at the camp nor whether any weapons or other incriminating items were recovered during the raid.
Security officials described the successful operation as part of an ongoing strategy to confront criminal elements at their strongholds, especially those using remote forest enclaves to evade law enforcement. The Commissioner of Police commended the inter-agency collaboration displayed by all personnel involved and warned that forest hideouts will no longer be tolerated as sanctuaries for kidnappers or other criminals.
The raid follows a period of intensified security activities in Edo’s rural and forested areas, where organised kidnapping and violent crime have been persistent challenges. Local communities have welcomed the arrests, though many residents continue to call for sustained patrols and improved intelligence sharing to prevent future abductions and ensure safer travel and commerce in vulnerable corridors.
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