Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: L.Imafidon
BENIN CITY, Nigeria — July 4, 2026 — Eleven victims abducted by suspected kidnappers in Edo State have regained their freedom after escaping from captivity when their abductors allegedly fell asleep following an overnight trek through a forest in Etsako West Local Government Area, police and survivors said.p
The victims recounted their ordeal during a press briefing in Benin City on Friday, July 3, 2026, where they described how they seized an unexpected opportunity to flee after spending hours being forced to walk through the forest by heavily armed kidnappers. Their accounts were presented as the Edo State Police Command unveiled its latest successes in tackling violent crime across the state.
One of the victims, Destiny Braimah, said he was returning from his farm when he was intercepted by six armed men carrying guns and cutlasses. According to him, the attackers also abducted 10 other people before forcing the group deep into the forest.
Braimah said the captives heard gunshots believed to have been fired by police officers during a search operation while they were being marched through the bush. He explained that after trekking throughout the night, the kidnappers became exhausted and instructed the victims to remain hidden before eventually falling asleep.
He said the victims quietly escaped from the scene and made their way to the nearest police station, where they reported the incident. Braimah added that they had been beaten and subjected to harsh treatment throughout their captivity before their escape.
Another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, narrated a separate kidnapping experience, saying she recognised some of the suspects after their eventual arrest by security operatives. She disclosed that she had been abducted on January 12, 2026, while working on her farm and spent four days in captivity.
According to Inyanugbo, the kidnappers demanded to know how much money she had in her bank account and later compelled her family to pay N3 million as ransom. She added that an additional N300,000 was demanded to provide hard drugs, food and other supplies for the criminal gang before she was released.
She said members of the local vigilante group initially apprehended two of the suspects in the bush, while police officers later tracked down and arrested other members of the gang. Inyanugbo recalled that one of the suspects had boasted that he could never be arrested, making his eventual capture all the more surprising to her.
Speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, said the command recorded significant successes in June through intelligence-led policing and coordinated tactical operations across the state.
Agbonika disclosed that police arrested 32 suspected kidnappers and rescued 38 kidnapped victims during the month. He added that officers also arrested 15 suspected cultists, three armed robbery suspects, 11 murder suspects, and 14 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases.
The police commissioner said the achievements reflected the command's determination to combat violent crime through improved intelligence gathering, rapid operational response and collaboration with local communities and other security stakeholders.
He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information capable of preventing criminal activities and leading to the arrest of offenders. Agbonika also assured the public that the command would sustain operations aimed at dismantling kidnapping syndicates and restoring confidence in public safety across Edo State.
Kidnapping for ransom has remained one of Nigeria's most pressing security challenges, with criminal gangs frequently targeting travellers, farmers and residents in several parts of the country. Security agencies have intensified operations against kidnapping networks, although attacks continue to pose serious threats to communities in affected regions.
Police said investigations into the latest cases are ongoing as efforts continue to apprehend additional suspects and strengthen security operations across Edo State.
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