The Edo State Police Command says it arrested no fewer than 129 suspects for various crimes across the state in January 2026.
The Command also disclosed that it rescued 30 kidnapped victims and recovered six stolen vehicles, three stolen motorcycles, and 39 stolen phones within the period under review.
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, made the disclosure on Friday during the Command’s first end-of-the-month press conference of 2026 in Benin City.
Providing a breakdown of the arrests, Agbonika said the suspects included 13 alleged murderers, 14 suspected armed robbers, 87 suspected kidnappers, and 15 suspected cultists. He noted that many of the kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed.
The Police Commissioner also detailed arms and ammunition recovered during operations. Items seized included two fabricated AK-47 rifles with six rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle with 30 rounds of live ammunition, 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, five cut-to-size single-barrelled shotguns, 28 Dane guns, one Makarov pistol, one Beretta pistol, one double-barrelled shotgun, and 20 live cartridges.
Agbonika said the achievements were made possible through close synergy with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Edo State Security Corps, the Department of State Services, and local hunters.
According to him, the collaboration involved coordinated bush-combing operations, night raids, highway checkpoints, sting operations, and tactical offensives across Edo North, Edo Central, and other flashpoints.
“From the forests of Edo North to the highways and flashpoints of Edo Central, we have sustained an unrelenting, intelligence-driven onslaught against kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, murder suspects, and every organized crime network that seeks to threaten the peace of the good people of Edo State,” he said.
Agbonika added that with the aid of helicopters and drone technology, security operatives conducted several high-risk joint operations deep inside forests where kidnappers’ camps previously operated. He said many of the camps have now been dismantled, suspects arrested, and previously feared routes reopened.
The Police Commissioner stated that the Command intensified proactive security measures ahead of the Valentine celebration and has sustained the tempo since then.
He also commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for donating a squadron of drones and other logistical support, noting that selected tactical operatives have undergone specialized drone training, providing real-time aerial reconnaissance capabilities.
Agbonika assured residents and investors that security agencies are determined to restore lasting peace and strengthen public confidence, adding that the fight against criminality would be sustained and intensified.
“To our officers and men who brave bullets, harsh terrain, and sleepless nights, I commend your courage. To the good people of Edo State, continue to support us with credible information. Security is a shared responsibility, and together we will win,” he said.
