Intensive Operations Halt Abduction Crisis as Authorities Pursue Remaining Criminals

In a significant breakthrough, the Edo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper and recovered the body of one of the women abducted earlier this month from the Iyowa Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The victims—66-year-old Favour Nosakhare, 28-year-old Emmanuel Annabel Osasere, and 26-year-old Rejoice Otikpere—were taken from their home on May 9, 2026, in a bold raid by armed men.

The abduction sparked widespread outrage, especially after the kidnappers taunted families with a chilling video call that displayed the women enduring torture while demanding ransom for their safe return.

In response to the alarming situation, the Edo State Police's Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with the Police Drone Unit, launched a comprehensive rescue operation, deploying aerial surveillance across forests and suspected criminal hideouts in the Ovia North-East area.

During a pivotal operation on May 19, police tracked the kidnappers to a forest along a powerline route, igniting a gun battle that forced the suspects to flee. Authorities recovered crucial evidence at the scene, including a blood-stained jacket and spent AK-47 ammunition.

Following further investigations, officers apprehended 23-year-old Musa Haruna, identified as a member of a notorious kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate that operates along the Benin-Lagos and Old Benin-Akure Road corridors. Haruna, found nursing a gunshot wound, confessed to his involvement and led officers to a remote forest in Ogwa Community, where two decomposing bodies were later discovered. Tragically, Favour Nosakhare was identified as one of the victims.

The Edo State Police Command has assured the public that efforts to track down and arrest other members of this criminal gang are ongoing. Law enforcement authorities are enhancing intelligence-led operations and have expressed confidence in the swift apprehension of the remaining suspects.

Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika commended the dedicated efforts of the VCRU and Police Drone Unit, which have been pivotal in this breakthrough. He urged local residents to assist law enforcement with timely and credible information, reinforcing the commitment of the command to protect lives and ensure that all individuals involved in this atrocity face justice