The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its offensive against kidnappers and other violent criminals in Edo State with an ongoing large-scale clearance operation targeting forests and suspected criminal hideouts across the state.
Addressing journalists, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5 said the operation followed a directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on July 22, 2026, ordering a two-week intensive security operation across vulnerable forest corridors and remote communities in Edo and Delta states.
According to the AIG, the operation is designed to deny kidnappers and other criminal groups the use of forests as operational bases, describing the exercise as a proactive strategy aimed at preventing crime rather than responding after attacks have occurred.
He said the sustained offensive had already contributed to a significant improvement in the security situation in Edo State, adding that the police would continue to maintain pressure on criminal elements to prevent them from regrouping.
“We will not wait for criminals to reorganise before taking action. Our objective is to clear every identified hideout and ensure that no part of the state’s forests remains under the control of criminal elements,” he said.
To support the operation, the police have deployed tactical assets, including gun trucks, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and specially trained operatives of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), who are conducting systematic searches of forests, camps, riverbanks and other difficult terrains across the state.
Since the commencement of the exercise, security teams have carried out operations in several locations, including Ogua Community Forest, Iguosagie Community Forest and Pipeline Corridor, Agava Community Forest and the Ovia River Bridge axis on July 23.
The operation continued on July 24 at Ugbogui Community Forest, Ikoha Community Forest and the Alakor Forest and River axis. On July 25, operatives extended the exercise to Ogbemudia Farm and Pipeline Corridor as well as Ugbokwu Sunny Camp Community along the Benin-Lagos Expressway.
On July 26, police teams cleared the Aigbengbe Camp Community near the Z & Y Quarry in the Ohosu axis of the Benin-Lagos Expressway, while operations on July 27 covered the Iguo Camp Community Forest along the same highway. The latest phase of the operation, conducted on July 28, focused on the Oneghero Community Forest located off the Benin-Akure Road.
The AIG disclosed that the operation remains ongoing, with tactical teams maintaining a strong presence in the affected areas while expanding the exercise to other identified criminal enclaves until every suspected hideout is searched and dismantled.
He reassured residents that the movement of gun trucks, tactical teams and other specialised police assets across parts of the state should not cause alarm, stressing that the deployments are part of a carefully planned operation aimed solely at enhancing public safety.
The senior police officer also warned criminals that forests in Edo State would no longer serve as safe havens, assuring that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to dominate the affected areas until criminal networks are completely dismantled.
He appealed to residents, particularly those living in communities bordering forest areas, to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, noting that information from members of the public remains critical to the success of ongoing operations.
The AIG commended officers participating in the clearance exercise for their resilience and professionalism despite the difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions, while also appreciating the people of Edo State for their continued cooperation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensuring that residents can live, work and travel safely, pledging that the operation would continue with renewed intensity until its objectives are fully achieved.
