Edo State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on violent crime across the state, recording the arrest of 22 suspects linked to armed robbery, murder and defilement, while also neutralising a suspected kidnapper during separate operations.
The Command also rescued a kidnapped woman and her three children in one of the coordinated operations carried out by its operatives.
The achievements were disclosed in a statement by the Edo State Police Command, which said the operations were conducted under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen intelligence-led policing and improve public safety.
According to the Command, nine suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate operating within Benin City were apprehended during a coordinated raid involving operatives of the Ugbor Police Division and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).
Police said the suspects, believed to be members of a 15-man gang responsible for a series of robberies across the metropolis, were arrested at different locations following intelligence gathering. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.
In another operation, detectives arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Omokhudu Innocent, over the alleged killing of two children identified as Praise Aloye, aged seven, and Oshone Ekhaesomhi, aged six, at Ayogwiri Community.
The Command said officers from the Jattu Division responded to a report of the incident and discovered the bodies of the children before taking the suspect into custody. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Police also confirmed the arrest of four suspects in connection with the murder of a community leader, Chief Saturday, in Ajife Community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area.
The suspects — Daniel Babatunde, Abraham Mumini, David Michael and Godwin Moses — were arrested after operatives of the Marine Police tracked them following the discovery of the deceased’s body. The case has been transferred to the Homicide Unit.
In a separate case, operatives arrested 30-year-old Igbewi Raphael Franklin for allegedly shooting an operative of the Edo State Security Corps, Oligie Prosper, during an attack at Igbonto Community.
The suspect, who allegedly fled after the shooting, was later tracked down through a joint operation involving the Police, ESSC, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and local hunters. A locally fabricated single-barrel gun was recovered from his residence, while the injured victim is receiving treatment at Agbor General Hospital in Delta State.
The Command further disclosed that a 23-year-old man, Timothy Mike, was arrested over the alleged defilement of an eight-year-old girl in Benin City.
According to police, the suspect was apprehended after the child’s mother reported the incident. Investigators said he confessed to the offence during interrogation. The survivor is receiving medical care, while the matter has been transferred to the Gender and Family Support Unit for further investigation and prosecution.
The police also arrested several suspects over the death of a motorist following a violent altercation that reportedly began after a minor road accident in Aduwawa, Benin City.
Investigators said one of the drivers allegedly invited his associates, who assaulted the other motorist, leaving him unconscious. The victim later died, prompting a homicide investigation.
The Edo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.
It also urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist security agencies in combating crime.
