By Peter Omopo
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 113 suspected kidnappers in a coordinated security operation across Zango settlements in the state.
The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups and local hunters, targeted identified locations in Edo Central believed to be hubs for kidnapping activities.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the enforcement action was conducted under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika.
According to the statement, the crackdown followed credible intelligence indicating that ransom proceeds from kidnapping operations were being received and coordinated at designated “Zangos” in Agbede and Iruekpen.
CP Agbonika reportedly led a joint task force in synchronised raids on the settlements, where suspected kidnappers and their collaborators were said to converge to collect ransom payments, regroup and blend with residents.
The police said the operation resulted in the arrest of 113 suspects, who are currently undergoing profiling to determine their level of involvement in kidnapping and related crimes. Authorities assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Command reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on organised kidnapping networks, stressing that efforts would not only focus on armed elements operating in forests but also on dismantling their financial and human support structures within communities.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies. The police assured that all intelligence received would be treated confidentially.
The Edo State Police Command declared that there would be no safe haven for kidnappers or their collaborators anywhere in the state, affirming its resolve to safeguard lives and property.
