Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, presented a staggering operational scorecard at a press briefing in Benin on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, revealing that between March and May 2026, the command arrested 55 suspected kidnappers and rescued 58 victims.
The results were achieved through a major crackdown on violent crimes across the state, largely driven by the intensified use of drones, digital tracking systems, surveillance gadgets and intelligence-led operations, particularly in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts, where criminal networks had established a firm footprint. The arrest figure of 55 suspected kidnappers forms part of a broader haul of 119 suspects arrested in the same period for various offences, a breakdown that includes 15 suspected cultists, eight armed robbery suspects, 15 murder suspects, three suspects linked to unlawful possession of firearms, and 23 suspects connected to rape and defilement cases.
Agbonika highlighted a specific operation that demonstrated the potency of the new strategy: the rescue of Ezighode Ebosele and her 14-year-old son, Wisdom. The mother and her child had been kidnapped on May 1, 2026, at Udoni Quarters in Irrua, in Edo Central. According to the CP, operatives deployed aerial surveillance technology and technical intelligence, which enabled them to track the kidnappers to their hideout. The operation succeeded in rescuing both victims unharmed and led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin of the syndicate, Yusuf Hassan, popularly known as “Dogo Yellow”, alongside nine other gang members.
Investigations revealed a sophisticated criminal enterprise. The syndicate operated a structured network that included informants, food suppliers, ransom negotiators and armed enforcers. The arrest of Dogo Yellow was made at a criminal hideout near Ubiaja in Esan South-East LGA. In a decisive move underscoring the state’s resolve, the Edo State Government, acting under the state’s anti-kidnapping law, subsequently demolished the property and confiscated it.
The police boss further disclosed that operatives foiled another kidnap attempt on May 8, 2026, along the Benin-Akure Road between the Ozoguo and Obazuwa communities. Acting on intelligence, police operatives, supported by military personnel, intercepted the criminals and engaged them in a gun duel. The operation rescued two victims, Okarewagba Benth and his wife, Ruth, unhurt. The couple was immediately reunited with their family. Extensive bush-combing operations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The command’s campaign has also focused on recovering the weapons that fuel the violence. During the operations, the police recovered two AK‑47 rifles, six pump‑action guns, seven locally made firearms, 13 cartridges and other rounds of ammunition.
While lauding the success, the Commissioner of Police also sounded a stark alarm over the rising tide of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across the state. “Within the last two months alone, the command has arrested over 23 suspects linked to rape, defilement and other SGBV-related offences,” Agbonika said. “This trend is painful, unacceptable and deeply concerning.”
To sustain the momentum, the command has launched a new tactical outfit: the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), a specialised intelligence-driven squad designed to tackle organised violent crimes with professionalism and accountability. The VCRU was created in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to strengthen operational response against emerging security threats nationwide. Agbonika assured residents that the command would sustain aggressive operations against criminal elements and continue strengthening tactical capacity and investigative professionalism across the state.
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