The police command in Edo State said it rescued 62 kidnap victims and arrested 40 suspected kidnappers in a crackdown on violent crimes in the last three months.

The state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Benin City.

Mr Agbonika who disclosed that the rescued victims include women and children, also explained that the breakthrough was the result of coordinated intelligence-led operations, community support, and inter-agency collaboration across volatile areas of the state.

According to him, in one of the most recent breakthroughs, a coordinated operation involving police tactical teams, vigilance groups, and hunters led to the rescue of 14 passengers abducted on the Fugar-Agenebode road.

He added, “Sadly, we lost one young victim, a 12-year-old girl, to the reckless violence of the kidnappers, while one person is still unaccounted for. Efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the missing individual.”

The CP noted that the command made significant progress not just in arrests, but in weakening the operational capabilities of the criminals.

He said this include kidnappers operating in the forests around Ewohimi, Fugar, Okpella, Uromi, Agenebde, and along the Benin-Lagos expressway.

The police chief also announced the arrest of 11 suspects for armed robbery and other violent crimes, with several caught in the act.

According to him, exhibits recovered from the suspects included firearms, stolen vehicles, electronics, and large sums of money.

He explained that in one instance, an armed robbery suspect was neutralised during an operation on the Auchi-Okpella expressway.

He said, “A fabricated shotgun, four live cartridges, and five expended ones were recovered from the scene.’’

Mr Agbonika also announced the recovery of 45 assorted firearms ranging from AK-47 rifles to locally made pistols and pump-action guns, as well as 163 rounds of live ammunition and five empty magazines.

These recoveries, he said, were made through stop-and-search operations, raids on criminal hideouts, and intelligence-led swoops across Benin, Auchi, Uromi, Iyamho, and Ekpoma.

The commissioner also identified cultism as a persistent threat to public safety in the state, particularly in urban centres and host communities to tertiary institutions.

He disclosed that 124 suspected cultists were arrested in the past three months, adding that many of them confessed to belonging to proscribed confraternities, including Maphites, Aye, NBM, Eiye, and Jurists.

He said, “Forty-six suspects were apprehended with firearms in Benin, while others were arrested in Jattu, Auchi, Ekpoma, Igbanke, and Ikoro community with dangerous weapons and cult paraphernalia.’’

According to him, these efforts helped reduce the wave of cult-related violence that had previously gripped parts of the state.

He, however, stressed the importance of community engagement in policing, noting that the command had deepened ties with traditional rulers, youth leaders, and faith-based institutions to strengthen early warning systems and boost intelligence gathering.

He also acknowledged the critical role of local vigilantes and hunters in the command’s recent successes.

He stated, “As the senatorial and federal constituency by-elections slated for August 16 approach, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security has been activated to guarantee peaceful and secure polls.’’

He appealed for continued public support and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to the safety of all residents.

(NAN)