Police nab 3 suspected kidnappers, rescue victim in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested two suspects allegedly specialising in kidnapping and armed robbery.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Patrick Daaor, who disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin City, described the suspects as members of a notorious kidnapping/armed robbery syndicate.

Daaor said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

He said on June 29, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m., operatives of the VCRU of the State Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested the two suspects at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

He gave the names of the suspects as Mohammed Hamisu, 22, and Saidu Bebe, 23.

“The suspects, during profiling, led operatives to a forest bordering Abudu in Edo State and Obiaruku in Delta State, where three AK-pattern rifles and two magazines were recovered at different locations.

“On 12 August 2026, the suspects again led operatives to the same forest, resulting in the recovery of 58 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and an additional magazine,” the Commissioner said.

He said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate and recover more operational weapons.

Meanwhile, the command also said it had rescued a kidnapped female victim identified as Elizabeth William.

He said the victim, who resided at Uwelu Quarters, Benin City, was rescued alive by operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit at Ogheghe Community, off Benin-Auchi Road by Egba, Benin City.

He explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the alleged kidnapper of the victim was a member of the dreaded Aiye secret cult.

He said the victim met the suspect, who has been arrested, through the online TikTok platform and subsequently commenced communication.

The Police Commissioner alleged that the suspect later invited the victim to his residence at Ogheghe Community, off Benin-Auchi Road by Egba, under the guise of a romantic date.

Daaor, who, however, said that the lady was held captive and her family contacted, added that the sum of N500,000 was paid as ransom for her release.