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Speaker 1: Day after, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonica,

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personally led troops of joint security operatives at the dead

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of the night to launch offensive attacks against kidnappers in

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the forest. The Commander four Brigade of the Nigerian Army,

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Brigadier General r me b Balagan, also personally led troops

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of joint security operatives to the kidnappers hideouts and launched

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massive military clearance and offensive actions against kidnappers. Both security

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operations led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers allegedly

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caught in the act inside the bush, with the identities

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of the arrested suspects indicating that most of the kidnappers

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terrorizing Edo’s State are from the far northern part of Nigeria,

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an observation which appeared to have challenged the public policy

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statement made earlier in January twenty twenty six by the

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Edo State Governor, Monday ok Capolo, who stated that many

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of those involved in the kidnapping surge in Edo’s State

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are inder genes of the area, saying that maybe the

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reasons some kidnappers wear space masks. The governor made this

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statement as kidnapping in the state appeared to have become

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worse in twenty twenty six and very rampant in a

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manner that indicated that an average of one to two

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persons of being kidnapped in a day in Edo’s state,

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as more than sixty persons became new victims of the

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increasing criminal activities in the state since the beginning of

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twenty twenty six. Like in January second, twenty twenty six,

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two brothers doctor Abu Ibrahem babbitton Day, a medical doctor

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on housemanship, and Abu Tahir, a fresh graduate, were kidnapped

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at the gate of their residence along City Pride Road,

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Igbira Campinauchi. The kidnappers initially demanded the two hundred million

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nairas ransom and tragically, on January fifth, one of the

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two brothers was found dead. On January ninth, twenty twenty six,

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eight indigenes of a Moga community in the Arcoco Edolocal

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government area of the state were abducted from a hotel

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along a Billow road. Since the start of twenty twenty six,

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Edo State has experienced a significant surge in kidnappings, leading

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to widespread protests at diploma in the Edo Central sanatorial

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zone with multiple police rescue operations, including the incidents reported

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early February twenty twenty six, where police rescued nine victims,

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including five children, and a separate group of fourteen victims.

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This is that earlier, on January twenty second, twenty twenty six,

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a farmer named Monday Adero was kidnapped and later rescued,

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and in late January, another farmer, Abraham Moodwer and his

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two wives, Brinda and Anna, were abducted from Aguro Amende

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community but successfully rescued by security forces. In mid January,

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A K. Favour and the former student union leader were

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kidnapped in Edo Central. Troubled by the surge in kidnapping

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in the state, residents and students of Ambrose Alley Universe

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AAU staged a major protest on January tenth, twenty twenty six,

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sighting daily kidnappings and the abduction of a university professor

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and numerous students. On February second, twenty twenty six, a

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family of nine was ambushed to echo a Becouilloa Road

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in Ovia Northeast Local government area, and the kidnappers demanded

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a two hundred and sixty million narers ransom for four

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children and two women still held after five others were

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rescued or released. That aside, on January thirty first, twenty

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twenty six, gunman intercepted a commercial bus near Echiodolla, shooting

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the driver and taking passengers into the bush. Police later

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rescued thirteen victims. In mid January twenty twenty six, multiple

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residents in Ippoma were abducted, including a victim captured on

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CCTV being taken from his compound. According to Captain Kennedy

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and Yanwum, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations of

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U Brigade, Nigerian Army, troops of four Brigade Nigerian Army,

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in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, Heado

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State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps

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n SCBC, and the Edo State Security Corps, on the

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fourth of February twenty twenty six, conducted a clearance operation

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codenamed Operation Igbo Dano Won to neutralize, flush out terrorists, kidnappers,

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and rescue victims of the Sara community in Exico West

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Local Government Area as well as Auchi and Oppella communities,

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all in Edo North Senatorial district of Edo State. During

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the operation, eight suspected kidnappers and illicit drug peddlers were arrested.

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The suspects were identified as Jamalu Mohammad twenty five, Kasamabu

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thirty three, Brimo Afees thirty one, Suliman Hemisu thirty six,

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Lawanumaru twenty five, Babar Awl twenty four, Musu Oumaru forty

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and a Modua type fifty. Weapons recovered from the suspects

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include one English auto pomp action gun, four live cartridges

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and one locally made pistol. Other items seized were a

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point of sale pos machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera,

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two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codine syrup,

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two Indian hemp, weighing scales, and quantities of substances suspected

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to be cannabis, sativa, tramadol, ice, loud and collos. The

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sum of eighty seven thousand, five hundred and fifty niers

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was also recovered. The suspects and recovered items have been

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handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.

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In a related development, troops of four Brigade, in conjunction

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with the Edo State Police command also combed the Avile

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Forest in Exco West Local Government area aimed at flushing

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out suspected terrorists and kidnappers. During the raid, five suspected

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kidnappers Isiaka Abu Baka thirty seven, Mohammad Abu Bakha twenty five,

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Yusuf Abubaka twenty four, Mohammad Samu twenty and Isiaka Ibrahim

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thirty were arrested. Items recovered from him include two motorcycles,

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two Android phones and a power bank. The suspects and

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recovered items were also handed over to the police for

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further investigation. The commander four Brigade, Brigadier General hm Ed Balagun,

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who led the operations, commended the swift response and collaboration

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among the security agencies. He warned that Edo’s state will

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be untenable for terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements to

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carry out the nefarious activities. He also reaffirmed the Brigade’s

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commitment to safeguarding lives and properties in the state. He

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expressed appreciation to the General Officer commanding two Division, Nigerian Army,

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Major General Shinido Nebafe, for his strategic guidance and support.

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While asp ENO Ichiodom, the Edo Police Command public relations officer,

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had stated that in continuation of the joint clearance operations,

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a meticulously executed night operation that underscores the resolve of

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synergized security forces to confront crime at its roots was

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conducted the Edo State Police Command in the early hours

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of Tuesday, the third of February twenty twenty six, carried

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out a daring ray deep within the Agbede Forest, Etxico

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West Local Government area of Edo State, leading to the

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arrest of six suspects. The operation was launched following a

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critical intelligence breakthrough provided by a kidnapped victim who was

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able to clearly identify the forest camp where he had

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been held captive. Acting decisively on this lead, the Commissioner

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of Police, Edo State Command, CP. Monday Agbonica personally led

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a formidable joint team comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the

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Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps n SCDC,

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the Edo State Security Corps ees SC and local hunters

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into the heart of the forest under the cover of darkness.

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Demonstrating precision and determination, the joint team drove for approximately

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three three hours until the end of the last accessible

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motorable road. From that point, the operatives advanced on foot,

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navigating dense forest paths and crossing three three locally constructed

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wooden bridges to reach the identified camp. The silent advance,

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which lasted close to two two additional hours, ensured tactical

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surprise and prevented any compromise of the mission. Upon arrival

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at the location at about three forty five a m.

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The area was swiftly cordoned off in a well coordinated encirclement,

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effectively cutting off all escape routes. A thorough sweep the

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camp resulted in the arrest of six suspects, identified us

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Mikhel Jendiger Mail aged forty one years from Benewe State,

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Yusuf Abubaka Mail aged thirty four years from Karno State,

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Isjaka Abraham Mail aged thirty years from Kogi State, Isaka

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Abubakar Mail aged thirty seven years from Karno State, Mohammadsumo

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Mail aged twenty years from Karno State, and Mohammad Abubaka

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Mail aged twenty five years from Karno State. The suspects

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are currently being profiled and subjected to intensive investigation by

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offices of the state Criminal Investigation Department SCID benin City

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for Diligent Prosecution. Describing the operation as a clear message

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to criminal elements, The Commissioner of Police commence the courage,

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discipline and seamless into agency collaboration displayed by all personnel involved.

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He reaffirms the Command’s determination to take the fight against

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organized crime to the abode of suspected criminals at their

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most remote locations, and warned that Edo State forests will

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no longer serve as safe havens for criminals. The Edo

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State Police Command urges members of the public to remain

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vigilant and to continue supporting security agencies with timely and

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credible information, assuring citizens that sustained intelligence led operations will

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remain a key strategy in securing lives and property across

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the state. Edi Quindi unis in mogital