The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of 13 suspected kidnappers and the rescue of nine victims during intelligence-led operations conducted in August 2026.

Commissioner of Police Patrick Daaor disclosed the development at the command’s end-of-month press conference in Benin City.

Among the major breakthroughs recorded during the month was the arrest of five suspected members of a kidnapping and banditry network allegedly operating along the Auchi-Okene axis.

Police said the five suspects were arrested in Niger State on August 30 after a couple was abducted at Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on August 8.

The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Unit, following intelligence from the Technical Intelligence Unit in Abuja.

According to the command, the suspects confessed to the Jattu kidnapping as well as other kidnapping operations in Edo and Kogi states.

The police said information obtained from the suspects led operatives to the Okpella forest, where they recovered two fabricated AK-47 rifles, one pump-action rifle, six magazines and 200 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.

Daaor said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the suspected network.

Beyond kidnapping-related arrests, the commissioner said the command also arrested 14 suspects over armed robbery and other violent crimes, 19 suspected cultists, six suspected human traffickers and five suspects over store breaking and stealing.

The command also recorded 12 arrests linked to sexual and gender-based violence and recovered eight vehicles connected with suspected criminal activities.