A total of 18 kidnapping and armed robbery suspects were on Friday apprehended along the Benin – Auchi axis by the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) with pellets and several charms recovered.
ESSC’s Corps Commandant, Friday Ibadin who made this known on Saturday, said the arrests were made during a bush combing exercise along Benin – Auchi Road by Equedion Camp, close to the Army Checkpoint.
Identifying 17 out of the 18 arrested suspects as non-indigenes of the state, Comm. Ibadin reassured Edo Citizens of government’s commitment to ensuring and providing an enabling environment for them during this farming season.
He stressed that his men will continue to assert more effort to that ensure Edo State is completely free of criminals.
Ibadin said on sighting his men, the suspects took to their heels but were chased to a camp were 18 persons were arrested.
“17 of the 18 arrested suspects are non – indigenes, while one is an indigene from Agbede community,” he said.
Ibadin said thirty-eight (38) fully loaded locally made guns and charms were also recovered in the process.
“Our men will continue to comb the bushes and sensitise locals to ensure our forests are rid of this criminals and that Edo State is safe and secured for all.
While handing over the suspected criminals to the DPO of Agbede Police Station, Ibadin sued for closer synergy between the corps and other security agencies in the state, maintaining that collaborative effort is required to completely combat criminal elements in the state.
He added that the arrests by the Corps is coming few days after Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo ordered security agencies to flush out criminals in the state and make Edo forests and bushes safe and secured for farmers, and all Edo people.
