Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Edo State Police Command has arrested seven suspected cult members in Otuo, recovered a six-month-old baby allegedly stolen and taken to Imo State, and apprehended suspects linked to the alleged sexual violation and online exposure of a young girl in Ekiadolor, in a week of sustained intelligence-led operations across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Edo State Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed the operational achievements during a press briefing in Benin City on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor. Ikoedem said the arrests and recovery were part of sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at tackling criminal activities and protecting lives and property across the state. The briefing covered multiple cases that the command had pursued over the preceding week, reflecting what officials described as a comprehensive approach to confronting criminality in Edo State.
The recovery of the six-month-old baby was one of the most significant developments. According to Ikoedem, operatives of the Command's Gender and Family Unit traced the child to Imo State after the baby was allegedly stolen and taken out of Edo. The police spokesperson confirmed that the child had since been reunited with the family, while suspects connected to the incident had been arrested. The case underscores the persistent challenge of child abduction in Nigeria, where infants are sometimes trafficked across state lines and sold or exploited. The swift recovery of the baby and the reunion with the family represent a measure of success for the command's specialised unit, which handles cases involving vulnerable persons, including children and survivors of gender-based violence.
In a separate operation, operatives of the Otuo Divisional Police Headquarters arrested seven suspected cult members described by the command as notorious. The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation aimed at curbing cult-related activities in the area. Cultism has remained a persistent security challenge in Edo State, particularly in communities where rival confraternities engage in violent clashes that disrupt daily life and leave residents fearful. The command has consistently emphasised that intelligence-led operations, rather than reactive patrols, are the most effective means of disrupting cult networks and preventing the violence that accompanies their activities. The seven suspects remain in custody as investigations continue to establish their alleged involvement in cult-related activities and determine whether others are connected to the case.
The command also disclosed the arrest of suspects linked to the stripping and assault of a young girl in the Ekiadolor axis, with the material subsequently circulated on social media. Ikoedem said the suspects were in police custody while investigations continued, and the command would ensure that anyone found culpable was made to face the law. The case has drawn attention to the growing problem of digital sexual violence in Nigeria, where videos of assaults are shared online, compounding the trauma suffered by victims and creating a permanent record of the abuse. The police spokesperson urged members of the public to use social media responsibly and desist from using digital platforms to humiliate, threaten, expose or sexually violate others. "Sexual violence in any form is a criminal offence and must not be tolerated or concealed," she said. The command's decision to treat the circulation of the material as part of the same investigation signals a recognition that the distribution of such content is not merely a secondary harm but a criminal act in its own right.
On sexual violence, Ikoedem disclosed that a 37-year-old man was in police custody over the alleged rape of a 70-year-old woman in Igueben. The case was being thoroughly investigated, and the suspect would be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon conclusion of the investigation. The allegation against the suspect is particularly disturbing given the age of the victim, and it reflects the broader challenge of sexual violence against elderly women in Nigeria, a category of crime that is often underreported and inadequately addressed. The command said it was treating the case with the seriousness it deserved.
The police spokesperson also reported the successful conclusion of a one-week joint clearance operation across parts of Edo North, targeting criminal hideouts in forest areas. According to her, the operation yielded positive results, with the affected communities remaining relatively calm and peaceful, particularly with no reported kidnapping incidents during the period. The clearance operation was conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and was aimed at dislodging criminal elements from the forests that have served as bases for kidnappers, bandits and other armed groups operating in the region. The absence of kidnapping incidents during the operation was cited by the command as evidence of its effectiveness.
The Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remained essential to the success of police operations. He also advised parents and young people to shun cultism and all forms of criminal association, warning that involvement in such groups could have devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities. The command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations and taking decisive action against criminal activities across Edo State.
The operations form part of a broader pattern of police activity in Edo State, where the command has recorded multiple arrests and recoveries in recent months. The state has been a flashpoint for cultism, kidnapping and sexual violence, and the command has repeatedly emphasised that it will not relent in its efforts to protect lives and property. The successful recovery of the stolen baby and the arrest of the cult suspects represent tangible outcomes of that commitment. The coming weeks will determine whether the command can build on these successes and whether the suspects held in custody will be prosecuted and convicted, sending a deterrent message to others engaged in similar criminal activities. For now, the police have demonstrated their capacity to act on intelligence and to pursue cases across state lines, and they have urged the public to continue providing the information on which their operations depend. As Ikoedem put it, the command remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to take decisive action against criminality across the state.
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