Police Say Criminals Flee Edo As Drone Operation Rescues Abducted Persons, Busts Gangs

BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

Criminals are on the run in Edo State following the launch of the police’s maiden drone-led operation, which resulted in the rescue of nine kidnapped persons and the dismantling of several criminal syndicates within one week, according to the Edo State Police Command.

Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said in a press statement in Benin at the weekend that the dramatic rescue of kidnapping victims took place at Egbojo Ikabigbo Community, Jattu, Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to her, operatives of the Command, acting on a kidnapping report, stormed the suspects’ hideout with the support of local vigilantes and hunters.

She said the newly deployed Eagle Combat Drone Unit provided real-time aerial intelligence that forced the kidnappers to flee and abandon their weapons, leading to the successful rescue of all nine victims, including children, without injuries.

“The Command received a report of a kidnapping incident at Egbojo Ikabigbo Community in Jattu, and the Divisional Police Officer of Jattu Division was immediately mobilized with his men in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters,” ASP Ikoedem said.

She added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, also deployed the Eagle Combat Drone Unit recently trained and equipped by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo on its first-ever rescue mission.

“In the early hours of January 9, 2026, at about 4:25 a.m., the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence. Ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles. The victims one adult male, three adult females, and five children were rescued unhurt,” she said.

The statement further disclosed that other major operations carried out during the period under review included the recovery of a black Toyota Yaris (Reg. No. BEN 952 CL) snatched at gunpoint along Ugbowo, Benin City, and the arrest of Oluwashegun Ajayi, a suspected member of an armed robbery syndicate as the vehicle has since been returned to its owner.

It also revealed that a seven-man armed robbery gang linked to the killing of a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator along MM Way off Sapele Road was dismantled following intelligence-led investigations by operatives of the Eagle Raiders Squad.

It explained that a raid on the gang’s armoury at Idahosa Street off Mission Road led to the recovery of one locally made eight round Revolver, a locally made single-barrel pistol, and a white mini-bus (Reg. No. NNE 74XD ANAMBRA) allegedly used in their criminal activities as all suspects apprehended  reportedly confessed to being members of the Supreme Eiye Confraternity.

“The suspects Idemudia Enadeghe ‘m’ a.k.a. Sobobo, aged 33yrs, Musa Abdulsalam ‘m’ a.k.a. Kulele, aged 33yrs, Kelechi John ‘m’, a.k.a. Onowu, aged 25yrs, Stefan Braimah ‘m’, aged 26yrs, Wisdom Osasere ‘m’, a.k.a Eje,  aged  29yrs, Miracle Osayande ‘m’ a.k.a. Araba, aged 32years and Miracle Monday ‘m’, aged 28yrs all confessed to being members of Supreme Eiye Confraternity Cult”, She said.

ASP Eno stated further said that in another operation, the police recovered a stolen Lexus 330 SUV with registration number BEN 819 EA, taken during a Christmas Day robbery and arrested Victor John, a member of the five-man gang responsible as the recovery was made through a joint operation by the Ugbowo and Okhoro divisions.

The police further said that operatives of the Loveworld Division arrested and recovered a locally  made firearm and cartridges from a suspected armed robber at Ogheghe Community off Sapele Road Bypass following a distress call, while a manhunt is ongoing for fleeing accomplices.

Also in Uromi, police reportedly foiled a child-trafficking syndicate, arresting three suspects, including the child’s mother and a medical practitioner. A new-born was rescued, while ₦1.4 million believed to be proceeds of the illegal transaction was recovered.

“Acting swiftly, operatives of Iruekpen Divisional Headquarters arrested one Martina Dachung the mother of the baby who then led to the arrest of one Matron Ighalo Grace of Eguavon Medical Center, Uromi and Oha Promise, all connected to the illegal transaction.

“The new born baby boy was safely retrieved, and evidence of the monetary transaction of One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,400,000) was recovered. Suspects will be charged to court”, She stated.

She however, quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Agbonika, as assuring residents of sustained security efforts and pledging an aggressive crackdown on criminal elements while urging the public to provide timely and credible information.