In Major Crime Bust, Edo Police Nab 129 Suspects, Rescue 30 Victims

by MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

Edo State Police Command said it dealt a major blow to criminal networks in Edo State, with the arrest of 129 suspected criminals and rescue of 30 kidnapped victims in intelligence-led operations across the State.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, disclosed this recently while briefing journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

He said the operations, conducted between January and mid-February, were carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Edo State Security Corps, community partners, and other local security stakeholders.

Breaking down the arrests, CP Agbonika said the suspects included 87 kidnappers, 14 armed robbers, 13 murder suspects, and 15 cultists.

He added that most of the rescued victims were unharmed following coordinated forest clearance missions and tactical offensives targeting criminal hideouts.

CP Agbonika also said the operations recovered 38 firearms, including three AK-47 rifles, five cut-to-size single-barrelled shotguns, 28 Dane guns, a Makarov pistol, a Beretta pistol, a double-barrelled shotgun, along with 72 rounds of live ammunition, 39 stolen phones, six vehicles and six motorcycles.

The Commissioner credited the use of helicopters and drones for enhancing surveillance and real-time intelligence, saying criminals now have nowhere to hide in Edo forests.

He stressed that the arrests and weapons seizures were part of sustained efforts to dismantle organized crime networks and restore public confidence.

“Our carefully selected tactical operatives have undergone specialized drone training, giving the Command real-time aerial reconnaissance capabilities.

“These unmanned systems now support bush clearance missions, track fleeing suspects, monitor flashpoints, and provide live-feed intelligence during operations.

“With this advancement, criminals who once hid deep within forest corridors now have nowhere to hide. Let me be clear: Edo State is totally out of bounds to criminals. No forest will be too thick to overcome. No hideout too remote. No network too fortified”, the police Chief said.

The Commissioner urged residents to always provide credible information to security agencies to help maintain safety and public confidence.