A major breakthrough has been recorded in Edo State’s fight against kidnapping after police operatives rescued an abducted woman and arrested a suspected member of the gang responsible for her abduction in Benin City.
The victim was kidnapped on June 14, 2026, at the popular Vegetable Market in Benin City, shortly after attending a church service with her family.
Parading suspects in Benin City on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, disclosed that operatives of the Intelligence Response Team acted on credible intelligence to track down the suspects.
The police arrested 32-year-old Marvelous Isaac in connection with the crime, while another suspect identified as Precious was killed during a gun battle with security operatives. Two other members of the gang reportedly escaped and are currently being hunted by law enforcement authorities.
According to the police, several items linked to the kidnapping operation were recovered during the raid, including a red Lexus RX 350 allegedly used to carry out the abduction.
Officers also recovered a pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, a motorcycle, and ₦2.25 million suspected to be proceeds from criminal activities.
Police authorities said investigations are ongoing, with intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining fleeing suspects and dismantle the wider criminal network.
In a separate development, the Edo State Police Command announced the arrest of five suspected kidnappers linked to attacks on commercial transport operators along the Benin-Lagos Road.
The suspects — Musa Haruna, Bali Sule, Mohammed Sani, Adamu Jafaru, and Mohammed Hashiru — were arrested following investigations into a series of kidnappings and violent attacks targeting passengers and transport companies, including Young Shall Grow Motors, GUO Motors, and Akwa Ibom State Transport Company vehicles.
Police said one of the suspects, Musa Haruna, confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnapping syndicate operating around Ogwa community and surrounding areas.
His confession reportedly led investigators to a forest hideout in Ogwa, where two decomposing bodies believed to be victims of the gang were discovered and recovered for preservation and further examination.
Subsequent operations led to the arrest of four additional suspects in Ogun State. Police said they also confessed to participating in the criminal activities under investigation.
The Edo State Police Command described the arrests as a significant step in ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and violent crimes across the state and neighbouring regions.
Authorities have assured residents that operations will continue until all members of the criminal gangs are brought to justice.
