Police in Edo rescue kidnap victims, arrest suspects, pipeline vandals

By Ozioruva Aliu

Benin City—The Edo State Police Command has rescued three kidnapped victims—a husband and his two wives in Ekpoma—and arrested eight suspected kidnappers, the Command said on Sunday.

In addition, five suspects were arrested for alleged vandalism of a petroleum pipeline in Edo Central Senatorial District.

According to a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Enom Ikoedem, the kidnappers arrested during a bush-combing operation in the Idoha/Ewu Forest include Jokoro Sali, 52; Buhari Ibrahim, 32; Isah Abubakar, 35; Shehu Ibrahim, 25; Abdullahi Samar, 18; Ibrahim Shaibu, 19; Mohammed Joro, 22; and Suleiman Sunana, 35. The operation involved command tactical teams, drones, Edo State Security Corps, hunters, and vigilante groups. Three tents suspected to be kidnappers’ camps were discovered, and five mobile phones believed to belong to victims were recovered.

The rescue followed a distress call from Egoro Amende Community, Ekpoma, reporting the abduction of farmer Abraham Udewa and his wives, Brinda and Anna Abraham. A joint security team tracked the suspects across nearby forests, forcing the kidnappers to flee and leaving the victims unharmed. Items recovered include cutlasses, a solar panel, rope, palm oil, and a face cap.

Separately, five suspects were arrested for pipeline vandalism in Uhiele Community, Ekpoma. Recovered items included an excavator used to damage the pipeline. Authorities are pursuing other suspects and recovered pipes.

The police urged the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to support law enforcement efforts.

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