Edo Police Nab 175 Suspected Criminals, Cultists, Kidnappers in Major 3-Month Crackdown

Edo Police Nab 175 Suspected Criminals, Cultists, Kidnappers in Major 3-Month Crackdown

In a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime, the Edo State Police Command has arrested 175 suspects involved in various criminal activities across the three senatorial zones of the state within the last three months.

Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, made this known during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Benin City. He disclosed that the suspects include 124 cultists, 40 kidnappers and 11 individuals linked to armed robbery and other violent crimes.

Agbonika revealed that the command recovered an arsenal of 45 firearms, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally made pistols and cut-to-size guns. Additionally, 163 rounds of live ammunition and five empty magazines were seized.

He said:

“In various operations, 40 suspected kidnappers were arrested. Eleven other suspects were arrested for armed robbery and other violent crimes.”

According to the CP, cultism continues to pose a serious threat in several parts of the state, prompting an intensified house-to-house search operation targeting suspected cult members.

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“Cultism remains a major concern in parts of the state. The command has intensified its efforts through the ongoing house-to-house search of cultists and has so far arrested 124 suspected cultists, many of whom have confessed to belonging to proscribed confraternities such as the Maphites, Ayes, NBM, Jurists Confraternity and Eiye.”

He added that 46 suspects were apprehended with firearms in Benin City, while others were arrested in areas such as Jattu, Auchi, Ekpoma, Igbanke and Ikoro community, in possession of dangerous weapons and cult-related items.

“These arrests have helped to significantly reduce the wave of inter-cult violence that recently plagued parts of the state.”

The Edo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to curbing criminal activities and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.