The Police Command in Edo State has successfully rescued 37 kidnapped victims, including the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan West Local Government Area, during several coordinated security missions across the state.
This was made known by the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, on Wednesday during a press conference in Benin City. The event marked his first official briefing since taking office one month ago and was used to present his early achievements as Edo’s police chief.
According to Agbonika, the rescued individuals were freed without any ransom being paid. The success, he said, came from strong intelligence work and joint operations involving several security agencies. He noted that the PDP chairman was abducted on April 15 while working on his farm in the Emu Forest and was freed on May 7 after weeks of intense efforts by the police and other allied forces.
“These 37 rescues are a direct result of collaborative bush-combing operations involving the military, Air Force, civil defence, local hunters, and vigilantes,” Agbonika stated.
The commissioner revealed that in just 30 days, the command recovered 25 firearms, including two AK-47 rifles, and arrested 12 suspected kidnappers and 95 robbery suspects. Other recovered items include 165 rounds of live ammunition, a Mercedes-Benz GLK 300, a Toyota Hilux, a Toyota Highlander, several motorcycles, and ₦115,000 in cash.
He noted that community involvement and working closely with local leaders is key to maintaining safety and preventing crime. On ongoing tensions between farmers and herders in rural parts of Edo, Agbonika described the situation as delicate but under control, stressing the importance of restoring trust between the two groups.
“We are reforming the vigilante structure to ensure that local security outfits operate only within their communities and with proper oversight,” he said.
Agbonika also warned that illegal weapons would not be tolerated in the state. He made it clear that all unlicensed firearms would be seized, no matter who owns them.
He ended his briefing by thanking the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for their ongoing support, and promised residents that the command would continue to fight crime until all criminal networks in Edo are dismantled.
