Edo State Police Command has recorded a string of breakthroughs in its ongoing fight against violent crime, arresting 22 suspects linked to armed robbery, murder, attempted murder and defilement in separate operations across the state.
The Command also recovered a firearm, rescued a kidnapped woman and her three children, and intensified efforts to track down fleeing members of a notorious robbery gang operating within Benin City.
The latest security successes were announced by the Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, who reaffirmed the resolve of the police to rid the state of criminal elements through intelligence-driven policing.
A major highlight of the operations was the arrest of nine suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate believed to have been terrorising residents of Benin City.
The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated operation by officers of the Ugbor Police Division and personnel of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), following intelligence that led operatives to different hideouts within the metropolis.
Police said the gang is believed to consist of about 15 members, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest those still on the run.
In another development, detectives arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Omokhudu Innocent, over the alleged killing of two children, seven-year-old Praise Aloye and six-year-old Oshone Ekhaesomhi, in Ayogwiri Community.
The Command said officers responded swiftly after receiving a distress report and recovered the bodies of the victims. The suspect is currently assisting investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
The police also arrested four persons over the alleged murder of Chief Saturday, a resident of Ajife Community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area.
The suspects—Daniel Babatunde, Abraham Mumini, David Michael and Godwin Moses—were arrested after Marine Police operatives launched an investigation into the killing. The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section for further investigation.
In a separate incident, operatives arrested 30-year-old Igbewi Raphael Franklin for allegedly shooting an operative of the Edo State Security Corps at Igbonto Community.
According to police, the suspect allegedly shot the victim with a locally made Dane gun before fleeing. He was later tracked and arrested through a joint operation involving the Police, ESSC, Vigilante Group of Nigeria and local hunters. A locally made single-barrel firearm was recovered from his residence, while the victim is receiving treatment at Agbor General Hospital in neighbouring Delta State.
The Command also confirmed the arrest of Timothy Mike, 23, over the alleged defilement of an eight-year-old girl in Benin City.
Police said the suspect was arrested after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint and allegedly confessed during interrogation. The child is receiving medical attention, while the matter has been transferred to the Gender and Family Support Unit for further investigation and prosecution.
Also under investigation is the death of a motorist who was allegedly attacked following a disagreement after a minor road accident in Aduwawa, Benin City.
According to preliminary findings, one of the drivers allegedly invited his associates, who assaulted the victim, leaving him unconscious. The victim later died from the injuries sustained, prompting the arrest of suspects connected to the incident.
The Edo State Police Command said the latest arrests demonstrate its determination to sustain pressure on criminal groups and improve security across the state.
It assured residents that investigations into all the cases are ongoing and appealed to members of the public to continue providing useful information that would aid law enforcement agencies in preventing and combating crime.