In a combined raid in Agbede Forest, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State, with members of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, the Edo State Command apprehended six alleged kidnappers.
Eno Ikoedem, the command spokesperson, said in a statement on Thursday that the operation was launched when a kidnapped victim identified the forest camp where he was being held captive, providing a crucial intelligence breakthrough.
The night operation, she said, demonstrated the security forces’ determination to address the underlying causes of crime.
The statement read in part, “The Edo State Police Command, in the early hours of Tuesday, 3rd February 2026, carried out a daring raid deep in the Agbede Forest, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, leading to the arrest of six suspects.
“The operation was launched following a critical intelligence breakthrough provided by a kidnapped victim who was able to clearly identify the forest camp where he had been held captive.
“Acting on this lead, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika, personally led a formidable joint team comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Edo State Security Corps, and local hunters into the heart of the forest under the cover of darkness.
“The joint team drove for approximately three hours until the end of the last accessible motorable road. From that point, the operatives advanced on foot, navigating dense forest paths and crossing three to four locally constructed wooden bridges to reach the identified camp.
“Upon arrival at the location at about 3:45 a.m., the area was swiftly cordoned off, effectively cutting off all escape routes. A thorough sweep of the camp resulted in the arrest of six suspects identified as: Mikel Gendaga ‘M’, aged 41 years, from Benue State; Yusuf Abubakar ‘M’, aged 34 years, from Kano State; Isyaka Abraham ‘M’, aged 30 years, from Kogi State; Isyaka Abubakar ‘M’, aged 37 years, from Kano State; Mohammed Sumo ‘M’, aged 20 years, from Kano State; and Mohammed Abubakar ‘M’, aged 25 years, from Kano State.”
According to Ikoedem, officers of Benin’s State Criminal Investigation Department are currently profiling the suspects and conducting a thorough investigation in order to prosecute them.
The Commissioner of Police praised the bravery, discipline, and inter-agency cooperation shown by all personnel involved, characterizing the operation as a clear message to criminal elements.
He cautioned that Edo State woodlands will no longer be used as safe havens for criminals and reiterated the Command’s resolve to combat organized crime at the abodes of suspected criminals in their most isolated areas.
The CP assured the public that ongoing intelligence-led operations will continue to be a crucial tactic in protecting people’s lives and property throughout the state, urging them to maintain their vigilance and to continue providing security forces with timely and reliable information.
As part of continuous efforts to reduce abduction and other violent crimes in the area, Edo State Police Command officers apprehended two suspected kidnappers during a regular patrol along the Auchi–Igarra Highway in Edo North.
The suspects, Muhammad Muamadu Haru, 35, and Abubakar Muhammed Haruna, 25, were captured by Igarra Area Command operatives on January 28 at about 1:30 p.m.
