Police Rescue Kidnap Victim, Neutralise Three Suspects in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim and neutralised three suspected kidnappers during a joint security operation in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.

The operation, conducted in the early hours of Sunday, October 11, 2026, involved police operatives from Igarra Division, the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the security team acted on credible intelligence and technical support to storm the Geo Works bushes and forest bordering Otuo, where the victim, identified as Michael Akano, was being held.

Akano was reportedly abducted on October 9, 2026, before the joint security team launched the operation to secure his release.

The statement said three suspected members of the kidnapping gang were neutralised during a gun duel, while other members of the gang reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.

The rescued victim was found unhurt and taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Items recovered from the scene included three locally fabricated single-barrel shotguns, eight live cartridges, five expended cartridges, two cutlasses and five mobile phones of different brands.

The bodies of the three suspects were deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Igarra for autopsy.

The police said a bush-combing operation was ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Patrick Daaor, commended the joint security team for its swift response, collaboration and courage during the operation.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at denying criminals safe havens across the state.

The command also urged residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring them that actionable intelligence would be treated with urgency as efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes continue.