The Edo State Police Command has recorded major security breakthroughs in Esan West and Owan West Local Government Areas with the rescue of kidnap victims and the arrest of suspected kidnappers and pipeline vandals in Ekpoma.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer Edo State Command ASP Eno Ikoedem said the successes followed targeted intelligence gathering, swift response and coordinated bush-combing operations carried out as part of sustained security measures ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika.
On January 26, 2026, police operatives in Ekpoma responded to credible information on the vandalism of a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) pipeline at Uhiele Community. Five suspects were arrested at the scene, while an excavator allegedly used to damage the pipeline was recovered. Police said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects who escaped and to recover vandalised pipeline materials.
Two days later, on January 28, a large-scale bush-combing exercise was conducted in the Idoha/Ewu Forest and other identified criminal hideouts. The operation involved police tactical teams, the drone unit, the Edo State Security Corps, hunters and vigilante members. Three makeshift camps suspected to belong to kidnappers were discovered, leading to the arrest of eight suspects. Five mobile phones believed to belong to kidnapped victims were also recovered, while investigations continued to dismantle the remaining members of the syndicate.
In another development, police rescued three kidnap victims on January 29 following a distress call from Egoro Amende Community, Ekpoma, reporting the abduction of a farmer and his two wives from their farm. A joint rescue team comprising police officers, soldiers, the Edo State Security Corps, vigilantes, hunters and community volunteers launched an intensive search across surrounding forests. The victims were rescued unhurt after the kidnappers fled on sighting security operatives. Several items, including cutlasses, a solar panel and other materials, were recovered at the scene.
The Edo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, securing critical infrastructure and dismantling organised criminal networks across the state. Residents were urged to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with timely and credible information to aid proactive policing.
