The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of no fewer than 16 kidnapped victims during separate coordinated operations across the state.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, the rescue efforts were carried out in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters along the Benin–Lagos and Benin–Akure highways.
According to Yamu, one of the victims who sustained a gunshot injury during the abduction was rescued by concerned citizens and is currently responding to treatment at a hospital.
Advertisement
READ MORE : Tinubu Orders Six-Months Ban On Raw Shea Nut Export To Boost Local Value Chain
The police spokesperson explained that the victims, who were mainly travelers, were abducted on August 23, 2025, between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., when armed men blocked sections of the highways. Following distress calls, the command immediately mobilized its security assets to launch a rescue mission.
He revealed that operatives from the Iguobazuwa and Ekiadolor Divisions, working alongside tactical teams, vigilantes, and hunters, conducted intensive bush-combing operations to track the kidnappers and free the victims.
Yamu also noted that the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, personally led part of the operation along the Benin–Akure axis. To improve precision and coordination, the Command deployed advanced technology, including drones, which played a critical role in the rescue.
The statement disclosed that six victims were freed along the Benin–Akure highway, while three others were rescued along the Benin–Lagos route. Additionally, seven victims abducted on the Benin–Akure road regained their freedom on the evening of August 25, 2025.
The Commissioner of Police, according to Yamu, commended the professionalism of the operatives as well as the significant contributions of vigilantes and hunters who assisted in the rescue operations. He emphasized that the synergy between the police and community structures has been crucial in combating violent crime in Edo State.
Agbonika assured the public that the Command would not relent until all remaining abducted victims are safely released and the perpetrators brought to justice. He further reiterated the resolve of the Police to rid the state of criminal activities.
“We are determined to rid our highways and communities of violent crime, and we will continue to deploy all resources, both human and technological, to guarantee the safety of every resident and traveler. The Edo State Police Command remains steadfast in its mission to protect lives and property, and calls on members of the public to continue to trust and support the Police as we work together to secure our communities,” the statement read in part.
Daily Post reported earlier on Monday that an unspecified number of passengers traveling in an 18-seater bus were abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Sobe–Benin Road in Owan West Local Government Area.
Among the victims were students, while the bus driver sustained gunshot injuries. A social media influencer, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), was reported to have rescued the injured driver and rushed him to a hospital for urgent medical attention.
