Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The armed men believed they had timed their operation perfectly. It was 2:00 a.m. on May 2, 2026, the hour when even the most vigilant neighbourhoods in Auchi, a bustling town in Edo State, close their eyes. A four‑man gang had scaled the fence of a residence in the Comprehensive Secondary School area, home to Mr. Okologho Prosper, expecting an easy haul of valuables before vanishing into the maze of unlit alleys that snake through the township. What they did not know was that the police were already on their trail. Within minutes of the invasion, a patrol team from Auchi Division had been scrambled, and by the time the suspects realised they had been cornered, the operation had already turned from a loot to a frantic flight.
The Edo State Police Command made the breakthrough public on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem. According to the statement, actionable intelligence was received at Auchi Division in the early hours of the morning, alerting officers that a robbery was in progress. The Divisional Police Officer wasted no time; he immediately mobilised a patrol team to the scene. When the officers arrived, the suspects spotted them and scattered in different directions. In their haste, they abandoned a bag that later yielded a cut‑to‑size locally made firearm, one live cartridge, and one mobile phone.
The discovery of the abandoned bag was not the end of the operation. The police launched a coordinated manhunt that stretched across the neighbourhood. By 9:00 a.m. that same morning, the net tightened around one of the suspects, identified as Aliu Mustafa (male). He was arrested in what the police described as a follow‑up action based on intelligence gathered from the scene. During subsequent interrogation and further searches, investigators recovered two additional mobile phones, one wristwatch, and one bag, all of which were positively identified by the victim, Mr. Okologho Prosper, as the items stolen from his residence.
The arrest is a welcome relief for residents of Auchi, a growing commercial and educational hub in Etsako West Local Government Area. Auchi is home to one of Nigeria’s largest polytechnics, Auchi Polytechnic, which draws thousands of students from across the country. The town has witnessed a noticeable uptick in armed robbery and burglary cases in recent months, particularly around the Comprehensive Secondary School area and the off‑campus hostels that line the Oluku‑Jattu road. Residents have complained of nocturnal raids by gangs who scale walls or break through back doors, often armed with locally made guns or machetes. The police response in this instance — from a 2:00 a.m. distress call to an arrest by 9:00 a.m. — is being hailed as a model of proactive policing.
The weapon recovered, a single‑barrel cut‑to‑size locally made firearm, is typical of the crude but effective weapons used by robbery gangs in the region. The live cartridge found alongside it suggests that the gang was prepared to use lethal force if confronted. That no shots were fired during the operation is a testament to the speed with which the officers closed in, forcing the suspects to abandon their plans and flee without engaging in a gun battle. The recovery of the mobile phone from the abandoned bag also gave investigators a crucial lead, allowing them to trace the suspects’ movements before the arrest.
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, praised the officers for their swift response, professionalism, and dedication. In a statement, he reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents in the state and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to aid policing efforts. “We will not rest until every criminal who disturbs the peace of Edo State is arrested and brought to justice,” Agbonika was quoted as saying. He also called on landlords and residents to install adequate security lighting and to report any suspicious movements around their neighbourhoods.
The arrest of Aliu Mustafa has not yet led to the capture of the remaining three members of the gang. The police have, however, released descriptions of the fleeing suspects and have placed all exit routes from Auchi under surveillance. The Edo State Police Command has also stepped up its night patrols, particularly around the Comprehensive Secondary School area and the Auchi Polytechnic environs. Local vigilante groups have been alerted to assist in the manhunt, and community leaders have been asked to provide intelligence about any new faces seen in the area.
The case now moves to the investigative stage. The suspect, Aliu Mustafa, is being held in custody and is undergoing interrogation to reveal the identities and whereabouts of his accomplices. The police are also investigating whether the gang is connected to a series of unsolved robberies in the Auchi area, including a break‑in at a shopping complex along the Jattu road in March 2026. Forensic analysis of the recovered mobile phones is expected to yield further leads. The stolen items, including the wristwatch and the two additional phones, will be returned to Mr. Okologho Prosper once the court proceedings are complete.
As Auchi residents go about their daily routines, many say the swift police response has restored some confidence. “We have been living in fear for weeks,” said a petty trader whose shop was broken into last month. “When you hear that the police came at 2 a.m. and actually caught someone, it makes you feel that maybe things are changing.” For now, three armed men remain at large, but the police have vowed not to rest until the entire gang is dismantled. The message from Edo State is clear: the days when criminals could operate with impunity in Auchi are numbered.
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