The Edo State Police Command has arrested 10 suspects for violent crimes, neutralised one suspected kidnapper and recovered arms and stolen vehicles in a week-long intelligence-led operation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, who disclosed this through the Police Public Relations Officer at a press briefing on Monday, said the Command recovered one AK-47 rifle, 10 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Beretta pistol and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Daaor said on September 12, the Command received information on the alleged abduction of five female children from the Ibillo/Imoga axis of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. A 50-year-old suspect, Nicholas Nusa, was arrested in connection with the case. He said the children have been reunited with their families while investigation continues.
He said operatives acting on credible intelligence had earlier, on September 8, arrested a suspected kidnapper, Sunday Irabor, at Efe Classic Crown Hotel near Oluku Market.
Three mobile phones, a Samsung tablet, a wristwatch and cash in naira and dollars were recovered from the suspect.
The Commissioner also disclosed the recovery of two stolen vehicles. According to him, a Toyota Camry reported stolen on September 7 was tracked to Warri, Delta State, where the complainant’s driver, Isiaka Suleiman, was arrested and the vehicle recovered. Similarly, operatives of Iguobazuwa Division on a stop-and-search operation on September 17 intercepted a silver Toyota Corolla belonging to Yikodeen Company Limited that was stolen from Lagos State.
The vehicle, whose number plate had been detached and concealed inside, was being taken to Port Harcourt for sale. The driver, 21-year-old Ahmed Musa Abubakar, was arrested.
On arms recovery, Daaor said operatives raided the residence of one Collins Aligwekwe, 28, at No. 4 Sofia Street, Ovbiogie Community on September 17 and recovered a Beretta pistol and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a kitchen. Another suspect, Godstime Erohuomhea, 28, was also arrested at the premises.
He said operatives in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps and local hunters on September 15 responded to a distress call from community leaders about the presence of suspected kidnappers on a farm road.
The suspects reportedly opened fire on sighting the team, leading to a gun duel in which one suspected kidnapper was neutralised and an AK-47 rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition recovered. He said combing of the bush is ongoing for possible arrests.
The Command also arrested a suspected military impersonator, Mohammed Manfred Abdulramah, 32, of Okene, Kogi State, along the Auchi-Okene Expressway on September 16.
The suspect, travelling from Warri to Okene, was found dressed in military camouflage and has confessed to stealing the uniform from a Navy officer in Niger State.
The Commissioner reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and rapid response to kidnapping, violent crimes and other criminal activities, and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to the police.
