Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Security forces operating under the authority of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 113 suspects during an early-morning intelligence-driven operation targeting alleged financial and logistical support networks connected to kidnapping activities in Edo State.
The operation was personally supervised by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who led a coordinated joint task force comprising the ["organization","Nigeria Police Force","national police service Nigeria"], the ["organization","Nigerian Army","Nigeria armed forces land branch"], the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps the communities of Agbede and Iruekpen.
Security analysts explain that “zango” settlements in some northern and mid-belt Nigerian contexts are informal residential clusters often associated with migrant trading communities. In this operation, law enforcement authorities alleged that certain zango-type gathering points had been exploited by criminal actors to coordinate ransom money transfers, regroup after operations, and merge into civilian populations to avoid detection.
During the raid, security operatives conducted systematic searches across strategic convergence locations where intelligence reports suggested kidnappers and collaborators were likely to assemble. Authorities stated that the objective was to dismantle not only the armed kidnapping units but also the financial and logistical structures sustaining them.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 113 individuals. Police authorities confirmed that all suspects are currently undergoing profiling procedures designed to determine their exact level of participation in kidnapping-related activities. Officials emphasised that profiling will include biometric verification, background investigation, and interrogation aligned with due process requirements.
The command reiterated that individuals found culpable after investigation will be prosecuted in accordance with applicable criminal statutes within the Nigerian legal system. Legal experts note that kidnapping offences in Nigeria carry severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment or capital punishment depending on the circumstances of the crime.
Commissioner Agbonika described the operation as part of a broader campaign to dismantle what security officials refer to as organised kidnapping financing networks. He stated that counter-kidnapping strategy in the state will extend beyond forest patrols and direct combat operations to include financial disruption, intelligence penetration, and community surveillance integration.
The police chief emphasised that criminal syndicates often depend on civilian intermediaries for ransom collection, message transmission, and safe movement across territories. According to his assessment, weakening these auxiliary networks is essential for sustainable reduction of kidnapping incidents.
Authorities also warned that the security campaign will continue with uncompromising intensity. The command declared that there would be “no sanctuary” for kidnappers or collaborators anywhere within territorial boundaries of the state.
The joint operation reflects the Nigerian security establishment’s evolving approach to asymmetric criminal threats. Modern kidnapping networks in parts of the country are believed to function through distributed cells combining armed manpower, communication handlers, transportation facilitators, and financial intermediaries.
Security intelligence officers involved in the operation reportedly relied on surveillance data, informant information, and behavioural mapping of suspected meeting sites. Although authorities did not disclose operational technicalities, they stressed that intelligence confidentiality was necessary to protect ongoing investigations and future missions.
Residents of affected communities were urged to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel by reporting suspicious activities. The command promised that all information provided by citizens would be treated with strict confidentiality to prevent retaliation against informants.
The police statement also appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders, and community organisations to support counter-kidnapping initiatives by strengthening local vigilance structures. Community participation, according to security officials, remains essential in early detection of criminal movements.
While the arrests were widely presented as a tactical success, human rights observers have urged authorities to ensure that the profiling and prosecution processes adhere strictly to constitutional safeguards. Civil liberties advocates emphasise that large-scale arrests must be followed by transparent judicial review to prevent wrongful detention.
The development is part of intensified security pressure across southern Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom has continued to generate public anxiety. Analysts suggest that criminal groups have increasingly adopted hybrid operational models involving both rural forest bases and urban financial facilitation channels.
Experts also warn that disrupting ransom funding flows may significantly reduce the economic incentive structure sustaining kidnapping syndicates. However, they caution that long-term stability will require simultaneous investment in community development, youth employment, and intelligence infrastructure.
The Edo State Police Command assured citizens that operational momentum will be maintained. Officials indicated that follow-up raids targeting additional suspect networks are already being planned, although specific locations were not disclosed.
As profiling of the 113 arrested individuals continues, security authorities expect further investigative outcomes that could lead to additional arrests or prosecution filings. The case represents one of the largest coordinated intelligence raids in recent anti-kidnapping enforcement efforts within the region.
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