Edo Police Command Smashes Kidnapping Syndicate, Rescues Abducted Victim

The Edo State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers and k!lled one during a fierce gun duel in the Eguaholor forest axis of Uhunmwonde Local Government Area. The spokesperson for the command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 17, 2026 said the suspects, Bright Junior, from Agbor, Salisu Abubakar, from Kano and Momodu James, from Auchi, were linked to kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state. According to the PPRO, police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, carried out the operation on Sunday, rescuing an abducted victim unharmed. She added that the operation followed intelligence received at about 6:30 a.m., prompting operatives led by the divisional police officer of Ehor Division, alongside members of the Edo State Security Corps, to mobilise to the area. "The Edo State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, has again recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and violent crimes across the State,” the statement read. "'In a swift and intelligence-driven operation carried out in the early hours of Sunday, 17th May, 2026, operatives of the Command in collaboration with vigilante members successfully rescued a kidnapped victim unhurt, arrested three suspected kidnappers, and neutralized one armed gang member identified as Prince Momodu James during a fierce gun duel in the Eguaholor forest axis of Uhunmwonde Local Government Area. "The operation followed intelligence received at about 06:30am. Acting swiftly, police operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer Ehor Division along with members of Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) were mobilized to the area where the kidnappers engaged the security team in a gun duel. "The superior firepower and tactical response of the operatives forced the criminals into disarray, leading to the successful rescue of 56 years old Saturday Enakhimon, ‘m’ who was kidnapped on the 13/05/206 in Igueben and has been taken to the hospital for medical attention. “During the operation, the following suspects were arrested: Bright Junior ‘m’, aged 25 from Agbor, Delta State, Salisu Abubakar ‘m’, aged 27 from Kano Stat Justrince Momodu James ‘m’, aged 27 from Auchi, Edo State.” Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: one motorcycle, one cut-to-size gun, one Android phone, cash sum of eight hundred thousand Naira only (N800,000), three touch light phones, three empty shell cartridges, two lighters, three ATM debit cards, one cigarette pack, one wallet, one toothpaste, one motorcycle key and one Glo SIM card, and one identity card. The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, commends the gallantry, professionalism, and swift response of the operatives and local vigilante team whose collaborative effort led to this successful operation. He reassures residents that the Edo State Police Command remains relentless, battle-ready, and fully committed to flushing out criminal elements from every part of the State. The Command further urges members of the public to continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information, as security remains a collective responsibility.