The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday said it had arrested six suspected kidnappers with cash suspected to be proceeds from kidnapping activities.
The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Tuesday, also said some arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects in the last 48 hours.
He disclosed that the arrests and recoveries were made in several places in Edo North which has experienced violent kidnappings and killings in the last three weeks.
The statement read that “On 16/03/2024 at about 04:30hrs, operatives of the Agbede Police Division alongside vigilante personnel, while on stop and search in Aviele along Abumere by power line, intercepted and arrested three suspects Jamilu Idris (20 years) Usman Shuaibu (24 years) and Yahuza Usman (20 years).
“One English-made Beretta pistol, one dagger, and an Infinix phone were recovered from the suspects after they were searched.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for kidnaping and armed robbery, including snatching of motorcycles in that area of the state.
“Investigation continues with a view to arresting other members of the syndicate.”
The statement continues, “On 16/03/2025 at about 22:10hrs, operatives of the Auchi Division, in collaboration with the vigilante on a routine stop and search at the UBA junction Auchi, intercepted two young men.
“The young men who took to their heels on sighting the police were given a hot chase, and one Adamu Usman of the Hausa Quarters was arrested while his accomplice escaped.
“An on-the-spot search led to the recovery of N1,345,100 believed to be proceeds of kidnapping. Also recovered were five micro SIM cards, one machete, one dagger, two phones and a pack of cigarettes.
“During preliminary investigation, two additional suspects, Iliyasu Abubakar (19 years) and Safiyanu Mohammed (20 years) were arrested, while one of the SIM cards was discovered to belong to one Ajibola Sunday of Igbirra camp in Auchi.
“When Ajibola Sunday was contacted and invited to the station, he identified the suspect as being part of the eight-man gang that kidnapped him and his mother-in-law on 11/03/2025 and their relations had to part with the sum of N10m to secure their release.”
Yamu said the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, assured the public of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, and to bringing perpetrators of crime to justice.
