Police Arrest Nigerien, 2 Others Over Kidnapping In Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a Nigerien national and two other suspects over alleged kidnapping activities in Ubiaja, Esan South-East local government area of the state.

The command said the arrests followed intensified operations ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, after reports of rising kidnapping incidents in parts of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

According to the statement, operatives of the Ubiaja Division arrested the first suspect, Suleman Harruna, 28, a national of the Republic of Niger residing in Kaba, Kogi State, on February 17, 2026, at about 6pm.

Ikoedem noted that the suspect had earlier been placed on the command’s wanted list before he was apprehended through technical intelligence.

She said, “During interrogation, members of the Hausa/Fulani community were invited for identification and the suspect was identified as a member of a notorious kidnapping gang alongside another accomplice.

“The suspect made useful confessions and has been assisting the police in ongoing investigations.”

The police spokesperson further revealed that another suspect, Ibrahim Kodo, 25, from Illushi Community, was arrested on February 20, 2026, at about 5:50pm in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Army.

She said Kodo was identified by a victim as one of the three armed men who kidnapped him on June 2, 2025, at about 10am while he was working on his farm.

Ikoedem added that on February 26, 2026, at about 9am, operatives also arrested another suspected kidnapper, Orsee Iorzaa, 32, of Omi Camp in Illushi, following intelligence-driven surveillance.

“A kidnapped victim identified the suspect as one of the five-man gang who invaded his home with guns and abducted him on February 21, 2026,” she said.

The police said efforts were ongoing to recover weapons used by the suspects and to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police commended the Divisional Police Officer of Ubiaja Division and his team for their resilience and professionalism, which led to the arrests.

The command also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to help curb criminal activities in the state.