The Edo State Police Command has arrested 22 suspects in connection with alleged kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, defilement and other criminal activities across the state.
The arrests were recorded during separate security operations carried out by the police and other law enforcement agencies, with five kidnapped victims also rescued.
Among those apprehended are nine suspected armed robbers, seven murder suspects, one defilement suspect and five other suspects linked to kidnapping and related offences.
Police authorities also reported that one suspected kidnapper was killed during an operation, while another was arrested.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed the development in a statement issued to journalists in Benin City.
According to Ikoedem, the operations were driven by intelligence gathered by security personnel working to disrupt criminal networks across Edo.
She said the police have continued to combine intelligence gathering with coordinated operations to prevent attacks and protect residents.
Nine suspected robbers arrested in Benin
One of the major breakthroughs occurred on August 30, 2026, when operatives attached to the Ugbor Division arrested nine suspected armed robbers.
The arrest took place at about 7:30 am following an intelligence-led operation conducted jointly with the Edo State Security Corps, ESSC.
Ikoedem said the team was led by the Divisional Police Officer, who acted on information received about the activities of a criminal gang operating in the Benin City metropolis.
The suspects are allegedly members of a 15-man gang accused of terrorising residents and committing armed robbery within the city.
Police said the operation was aimed at dismantling the group and preventing further attacks on residents.
“Targeted intelligence and coordinated action remain central to our efforts to disrupt criminal networks,” the command said.
Five kidnapping victims rescued
The police also disclosed that five victims of kidnapping were rescued during separate operations carried out by security operatives.
Among those rescued was a woman and her three children, highlighting the range of victims targeted by criminal groups operating in the state.
The command said the rescue operations were conducted through collaboration among security agencies.
The latest arrests form part of wider efforts by the Edo police to strengthen security and respond to rising threats from criminal groups.
Police authorities said investigations into the suspects and their alleged activities are ongoing.
The command further assured residents that security operatives would continue to rely on intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and targeted operations to tackle violent crime.
It urged residents to remain vigilant and provide useful information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending criminals.