Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has kept mum since a video went viral on social media platforms, wherein, allegation of bringing people illegally to settle inside forest in Edo State was made against the Divisional Police Officer, the DPO who is currently serving at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ugboha community in the Esan South-East local government area in the state, a state that have witnessed rampant cases of kidnappings in recent time, especially since the beginning of this year, despite the fact that the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has executed the destruction of numbers of houses or properties of apparent innocent landlords or people who may not have direct connection with the crime, it may be recalled that early 2025, the Governor demolished a residential property on College road simply because it was linked to a kidnapping gang operating in the Aduwawa, Eyaen, and Benin-Auchi road bypass axis, even when the building belonged to a woman based in Italy, just that, her brother, Osamede Asemota, the alleged key leader of the gang, allegedly used it to coordinate abductions, this is just one of many properties demolished by the Edo State government over kidnapping in the state, yet, records of kidnappings in the state continued to grow higher, and recent police and military arrests indicated that Edo State is perhaps under siege of foreign invaders who may have taken over larger part of the state forest to coordinate kidnappings in the state while working with some of the local residents to perpetuate the criminal act, it maybe interesting to note that; another set of non indigenes of the state arrested by the police recently included two persons caught inside the Specialist Hospital in Auchi, the two suspects who are said to be non indigenes of the state were among the gang of kidnappers behind the abduction of Doctor Abu Babatunde who regained his freedom after his family reportedly paid a sum of ₦50 million ransom after the Doctor and his younger brother were abducted on January 2, 2026, while opening the gate to their residence along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, Auchi, and unfortunately, the younger brother was later found dead on January 5 near the Orley River along City Pride Road, with police suspecting he was killed by the abductors, and the alleged illegal settlers who confessed the Ugboha DPO as their facilitator, are said to be non Nigerians from foreign countries.

According to one of the Vigilantes who caught the illegal settlers, the arrested illegal settlers in the forest will be taken to the station. The Vigilante member also said the illegal settlers are not Nigerians. And close watchers said people are brought in and smuggled into Edo forests illegally and such people may be responsible for the act of kidnapping in the state. Available records indicated that the kidnapping situation in the state is currently happening almost daily with numbers of the state residents and indigenes also recorded dead or killed by kidnappers since Governor Monday Okpebholo came into power.

On the recent arrest of two suspects at the Specialist Hospital in Auchi, the Edo State Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikeodem, “the first breakthrough came on 3 February 2026, operatives of the Auchi Division, while conducting a routine bush-combing operation in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, at Warake Forest, (and) following a lead on an intelligence, intercepted one Saminu Kawujie ‘Male’, (and) a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two  knives, two mobile phones, one U.B.A ATM card, and the sum of Twenty Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira. An identification parade was conducted at the Police station and he was identified by one of the abductors of Doctor Abu Babatunde.

Similarly, on 08 February 2026 at about 09:00 hours, the Divisional Police Officer; following a lead on the same case mobilized operatives to the Specialist Hospital, Auchi, where two suspects identified as Idris Abubakar, ‘Male’ and Sani Abubakar, ‘Male’, were apprehended at the hospital premises.

Both suspects have also been identified as part of the gang that abducted Doctor Babatunde on February 1, 2026. Idris Abubakar was identified as the particular person who received ransom money for the release of Doctor Abu.

Efforts have been intensified towards conducting a comprehensive and discreet investigation aimed at dismantling the entire notorious organized criminal network responsible for the kidnappings in Auchi and its environs.

The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, reassures members of the public of the Command’s resolve to pursue all kidnapping cases to a logical conclusion and bring perpetrators to justice, while sustaining aggressive bush-combing operations and intelligence-led policing across the State. The command can be reached on the following numbers; Emergency Control Room Numbers
0-8-0-7-7-7-7-3-7-2-1 and 0-8-0-3-7-6-4-6-2-7-2 and For Complaints;
Public Complaints Bureau, PCB – 0-8-1-5-0-9-9-9-3-3-5, Complaints Response Unit, CRU- 0-8-1-0-0-3-8-9-9-9-2″.

Meanwhile, a lecturer with the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Isah Abdulazeez had earlier on Sunday, posted on his Facebook wall that “(Doctor Abu Babatunde) reported for duty today (Sunday February 8, 2026) at the Edo State University Teaching Hospital, unaware that his routine workday would reopen one of the darkest chapters of his life.

While on ward rounds, (Doctor Babatunde) noticed some individuals who had come to visit a patient. In a chilling moment of recognition, he identified among them members of the same kidnapping gang that abducted him and his younger brother—a tragic incident that ended with the killing of his brother while attempting to escape from their den.

Acting swiftly, (Doctor Babatunde) immediately alerted the local security outfit, popularly known as the vigilante. However, under circumstances that remain unclear, the information reportedly leaked to the police before the vigilante team could arrive. Police officers moved in promptly, arresting two of the suspects and detaining them today (Sunday February 8, 2026) at the Divisional Police Station in Auchi.

Fresh accounts emerging today further deepen the case. One of the individuals who participated in delivering the ransom that secured (Doctor Babtunde’s) release has identified one of the arrested suspects as being among those who physically received the ransom on the day the payment was made. Another report indicates that, just last night, the two suspects carried out P.O.S transactions at a stand within Auchi, raising fresh questions about the source of the funds.

A significant sum of money was allegedly found in their possession at the time of arrest today—an amount investigators believe is inconsistent with their known means and strongly suggestive of criminal activity.

As this report is being filed today, credible sources confirm that pressure is already being mounted on the Divisional Police Officer in Auchi to release the suspects. This development has sparked widespread concern within the community.

Notably, during a recent meeting with Auchi youth bodies, the DPO was reportedly overheard stating that the case had become widely publicised and could no longer be swept under the carpet—an indication that attempts may already be underway to compromise the process.

For a community long traumatised by kidnapping and violent crime, today’s arrests represent a critical moment. The people of Auchi and its environs are watching closely.

The Edo State Government must now take decisive responsibility. Governor Monday Okpebholo is urged to ensure that investigations are thorough and transparent and that, if the suspects are found guilty, the full weight of the Edo State anti-kidnapping law is applied without interference.

Justice for (Doctor Abu Babatunde), for his murdered brother, and for countless victims across Edo North must not be delayed or denied. Today must mark a turning point—not another missed opportunity”.