Edo State Police Commissioner, Monday Agbonika has marked his one month in office, with a statement that over 37 persons among the people under the custody of kidnappers in the state have been rescued within 30 days he took over as commissioner of police in the heartbeat of the nation.

According to the CP Agbonika, before he resumed office in Edo State, he was specifically briefed by the Inspector General of Police and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission on security challenges of secret cult activities and kidnapping peculiar to the state.

In quote, CP Agbonika said; “Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, as you are all aware, I assumed duty on Tuesday, 8th April, 2025 as the 50th Commissioner of Police.

I was fully briefed by the Chairman, Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu Retired, mni, psc, NPM and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM on the Security challenges peculiar to the State such as cultism and kidnapping.

It was very clear that community inclusivity, and collaboration with both state and non-state actors was the way to go.

Suspects Arrested:
1), Ninety-Five (95) suspected Cultists.
2), Twelve (12) Suspected Kidnappers.
3), Five, (5) suspected Armed Robbers.

Number of Persons Rescued:
1), Thirty-Seven, (37) rescued kidnapped victims.

While most of the cases have been charged to court, some are under investigation.

Barely two days of my assumption of duty, I hit the ground running by visiting the North and Central Senatorial Zones of the State to see for my self all the identified flash points with prevalence of kidnapping and other heinous crimes, and immediately engaged critical stakeholders to map out proactive strategies to curb these challenges in the bud.

These strategies which are being reviewed from time to time have yielded considerable results even though it is not yet uhuru. I want to share with you the account of my stewardship in the past thirty, (30) days.

We shall sustain engagement with communities, bush combing operations across area commands and divisions, intelligence-led raids of flashpoints and high visibility policing amongst many other strategies with a view to preventing crimes and maintain law and order in the State.

On this note, I wish to express the Command’s appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM for his guidance.

We also appreciate His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo for his unflinching support.

While soliciting the continued support of the law abiding people of the State who have been trusting us with valuable information that has helped us in achieving this feat, I encourage all stakeholders to continue cooperating with the police as we strive to surmount the security challenges experienced in the state.

Our collaborative and proactive strategies have led to the rescue of thirty-seven, (37) kidnapped victims in daring operations which involved technical intelligence.

The officers and men have worked tirelessly over these days, leading to the recovery of twenty-five, (25) firearms including two, (2) AK 47 rifles, 130 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 135 live cartridges, as well as the recovery of four, (4) stolen/robbed vehicles.

Summary of the achievements recorded in past one month is as follows:
Exhibits Recovered:
1), Two, (2) AK 47 rifles
2), One, (1) Lar Mark rifle
3), Three, (3) English pistols
4), One ,(1) Beretta pistol
5), Four, (4) single barrel guns
6), One, (1) automatic Pump Action shotgun
7), Eight, (8) locally-made Pistols
8), One, (1) locally made shotgun
9), One, (1) Beretta pistol magazine
10), One Hundred and ten, (110) rounds of ammunition.

11), Thirty-four, (34) live cartridges
12), One, (1) Mercedes Benz GLK 300
13), One, (1) Toyota hilux
14), One, (1) Toyota Highlander
15), One, (1) Hijet mini bus
16), Two, (2) snatched-motorcycles
17), One, (1) dagger
18), One, (1) trigger part
19), One, (1) iphone 16 Plus
20), Cash sum of One hundred and fifty thousand naira, (₦100,000)”, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika stated during the press briefing held at the Edo State Police Command Headquarters during the week.

We had reported that the Edo State Police Command of Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 95 persons in connection with the killing of more than 15 people between April 25, 2025 and now in the renewed deadly and bloody apparent supremacy secret cult war in the state among members of the Black Axe Confraternity aka Aye, Maphite Confraternity aka Great Men and Eiye Confraternity aka Airlords which started with the killing of a physiotherapist, simply identified as Alex, and another individual at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH back gate, Ugbowo, in Benin, with the Edo State Government led by Governor Monday Okpebholo launching a retaliatory war against businesses and individuals allegedly aiding secret cult killings in the state; thus, sealed off Eterno Hotel, planned to demolish the hotel owed by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chieftain, Honourable Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who was the Director General of Asue/Ogie Campaign Organisation in the last Governorship election in the state, on the ground that a particular secret cult group members gathered at the Eterno Hotel to plan their recent killings in the state, and in addition, the Edo State governor also sealed off and marked a residential building for demolition also owed by a PDP Chieftain, Francis Inegbineki.