Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Benin City, Nigeria – The Edo State Police Command has reported significant breakthroughs in its ongoing battle against kidnapping and violent crime, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects, including a Nigerien national, and the neutralisation of an armed kidnapper in separate operations across the state. The latest actions form part of intensified security efforts in the region in response to a surge in abduction incidents that have alarmed residents and authorities alike.
The police confirmed that 28‑year‑old Suleman Harruna, a citizen of the Republic of Niger, was apprehended on February 17, 2026, by operatives of the Ubiaja Division acting on technical intelligence. Harruna, who resides in Kaba, Kogi State, had been on the command’s wanted list and was identified by members of the Hausa/Fulani community as part of a notorious kidnapping gang. He has made confessions and is reportedly assisting investigators as inquiries into the syndicate’s activities continue.
In addition to the Nigerien suspect, the police arrested 25‑year‑old Ibrahim Kodo, a native of Illushi in Edo State, on February 20, 2026, in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army. Kodo was identified by a kidnapping victim as one of three armed men who abducted him from his farm in June 2025. Just days later, on February 26, 32‑year‑old Orsee Iorzaa, also from the Illushi area, was taken into custody after surveillance teams acted on intelligence. He was linked to a February 2026 home invasion and abduction, with victims positively identifying him as a member of a five‑man gang.
The arrests followed a strategic security deployment by Edo State Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika, who spent six days in mid‑February assessing and repositioning security personnel within the state’s central senatorial district. Forested areas around Ubiaja were identified as flashpoints for criminal activity and have since been under intensified surveillance.
Despite the successes, security operatives faced stiff resistance during a bush‑combing operation conducted on March 7, 2026, in the Onogholọ and Akwocha forests. Four suspected kidnappers opened fire on the advancing team made up of police and members of the Edo State Security Corps. In the ensuing gun duel, one suspect was neutralised, and three others fled the scene with gunshot wounds. Police recovered a single‑barrelled shotgun, a black facial mask, and cartridges at the location, and operations to track the fleeing suspects are ongoing.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, praised the resilience and professionalism of officers involved in the operations, noting that these actions have disrupted kidnapping networks that have terrorised communities across the region. She called on residents to continue providing credible information that could aid security efforts to dismantle criminal networks completely.
These arrests form part of a broader offensive by the Edo State Police Command, which has made multiple mass arrests in recent weeks. In a midnight raid conducted on March 2, 2026, at Aviele in Etsako West Local Government Area, police detained 65 suspected kidnappers and recovered suspected ransom funds, uniforms resembling military attire and other incriminating items linked to criminal activities.
Earlier coordinated security sweeps across the state reportedly resulted in the detention of 113 suspects in connection with kidnapping and other violent crimes, demonstrating a pattern of sustained action against the threat.
Kidnapping has become a major security concern in several parts of Nigeria, with syndicates operating in rural and forested areas frequently targeting farmers, travellers and residents. In Edo State, many of the abduction incidents share commonalities, such as the use of rural hideouts and rapid movement through difficult terrain, making intelligence‑led policing and strategic deployment essential tools in combating the crisis.
Beyond arrests, the police have also been actively recovering weapons and disrupting syndicate operations. The recovery of firearms and intelligence that led to multiple arrests underscores the value of actionable information from local communities and interagency cooperation, including collaboration with the Nigerian Army and state security corps.
Authorities reiterated that while these arrests represent clear progress, the fight against kidnapping is far from over. Police say they are pursuing additional suspects reportedly linked to the gangs and continue to intensify patrols and surveillance in identified hotspots.
Residents have expressed cautious optimism about the heightened security presence, particularly in communities previously plagued by abductions. However, they also emphasise the need for deeper community policing efforts and improved infrastructure support to ensure that security forces can operate effectively in remote and hard‑to‑reach areas.
For families affected by past incidents, the arrests of key suspects provide a measure of relief, even as they await justice and the recovery of loved ones still missing. The police have assured that all suspects arrested will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law, signalling a determined stance against criminal networks that have disrupted peace and security in the state.
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