BENIN CITY – The Edo State Police Command has arrested 821 suspects and rescued 377 victims of kidnapping between January and December 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Agbonika, has said.
Agbonika disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on security arrangements put in place to ensure peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations across the state.
He said the command recorded major successes in the fight against violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, cultism and illegal possession of firearms.
According to him, the police also recovered several arms and ammunition, as well as stolen vehicles, during the period under review.
The commissioner said a key component of the security operations was a forest clearance exercise in Edo North, which he personally led to deny criminal elements access to ungoverned spaces.
He explained that the operation, which took place between December 14 and 20, was carried out with the approval of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, who authorised the deployment of police helicopters and drones, alongside other logistical support provided by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“The operation featured a coordinated deployment of ground troops and aerial assets to ensure comprehensive coverage, and it will be sustained,” Agbonika said.
He added that the exercise was executed through inter-agency collaboration involving the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, forest guards, vigilantes and local hunters.
The police commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and law-abiding during the festive season, stressing that public cooperation was critical to sustaining the security gains recorded so far.
Agbonika also warned against reports of corpses disappearing from some private mortuaries in the state, describing such acts as criminal, inhuman and a gross violation of the sensitivity of bereaved families.
“Anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law without exception,” he said, advising families to patronise government-owned mortuaries where proper oversight and accountability were guaranteed.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security across Edo State and encouraged residents to make use of the police emergency lines, which he said remained active round the clock.
“As we celebrate Christmas and prepare for the New Year, I wish the good people of Edo State a peaceful, safe and prosperous festive period,” the commissioner said.
Agbonika added that the festive security plan was anchored on proactive and intelligence-driven policing, including intensified patrols, stop-and-search operations, strategic deployments and sustained community engagement to deter crime and reassure residents.
If you want, I can also tighten this further for front-page space or reshape the lead to emphasise kidnappings and rescues first.
