In a single day, the Edo State Police Command reported that it had apprehended 113 alleged kidnappers in the state.
According to reports, on Thursday, 26, 2026 in Benin City, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Command’s public relations officer, revealed this in a statement made accessible to reporters.
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at around three in the morning, Ikoedem claimed, the suspects were taken into custody in “Zangos” in Agbede and Iruekpen as part of a coordinated operation with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, vigilante organizations, and local hunters.
She claimed that in order to determine their level of involvement, the apprehended individuals are now being thoroughly profiled.
According to her, the suspects and their accomplices were apprehended at specific Zango communities in Agbede and Iruekpen, where they gathered to collect ransom money.
In a bold, intelligence-driven operation, the Edo State Police Command, led by the decisive and results-driven Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, launched a massive joint security sweep across key locations in Edo Central at approximately 0300 hours on February 26, 2026, according to the statement.
“Acting on reliable information that ransom money from abduction operations was being secretly collected and organized at designated “Zangos” in Agbede and Iruekpen.
In a coordinated enforcement action, the Commissioner of Police personally oversaw a powerful joint task force that included members of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, vigilante groups, and local hunters.
“Actionable intelligence showed that suspected kidnappers and their collaborators congregate to receive ransom payments, regroup, and blend with unsuspecting members of the public. Therefore, coordinated raids were conducted on the identified Zango settlements in Agbede and Iruekpen.
One hundred thirteen (113) suspects were apprehended as a result of the precise inspections. At this time, each suspect is being thoroughly profiled to determine their degree of involvement.
“Those found to be at fault will be subject to the full force of the law,” she declared.
The Command’s campaign against abduction organized networks would continue to be unrelenting and uncompromising, according to State Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika.
In addition to targeting armed elements in the forests, Agbonika stressed that the police will step up efforts to weaken their human and financial support networks throughout the state.
Nonetheless, he urged citizens to maintain their vigilance and to keep giving security services accurate and timely information, promising that all intelligence will be handled with the utmost discretion.
There will be no shelter for kidnappers or their collaborators anywhere in Edo State, he said, adding that the Command is still resolute, aggressive, and prepared for battle to protect people and property.