In a bold show of resolve against organised crime, the Edo State Police Command has led a daring, intelligence-driven night operation deep into the notorious Agbede Forest, Etsako East Local Government Area, arresting six suspected kidnappers in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
The high-risk operation followed a critical intelligence breakthrough provided by a kidnapped victim who successfully identified the exact forest camp where he had been held hostage. Acting swiftly on this information, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, personally spearheaded a joint security task force into the heart of the forest under the cover of darkness.
The joint team comprised personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), alongside local hunters familiar with the rugged terrain. Operatives travelled for approximately three hours to the end of the last motorable road before embarking on a gruelling foot journey through dense forest paths.
For nearly two additional hours, the team advanced silently on foot, navigating thick vegetation and crossing three locally constructed wooden bridges to avoid detection and maintain
tactical surprise.At about 3:45 a.m., the camp was successfully surrounded in a well-coordinated encirclement that effectively sealed all escape routes. A comprehensive sweep of the area led to the arrest of six suspects identified as:
Mikel Gendaga (41), Benue State
Yusuf Abubakar (34), Kano State
Isyaka Abraham (30), Kogi State
Isyaka Abubakar (37), Kano State
Mohammed Sumo (20), Kano State
Mohammed Abubakar (25), Kano State
The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Benin City, where they are currently undergoing profiling and intensive investigation ahead of prosecution.
Commending the bravery and professionalism of the operatives, CP Agbonika described the operation as a strong warning to criminal elements, stressing that Edo State forests will no longer serve as safe havens for kidnappers and other criminals.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to taking the fight against crime directly to the hideouts of criminals, no matter how remote, while praising the seamless inter-agency collaboration that ensured the success of the mission.
The Edo State Police Command has urged residents to remain vigilant and to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring the public that intelligence-led operations remain central to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
