Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
It has been revealed how four suspected kidnappers who were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of an Edo State medical doctor, Ibrahim Babatunde Tahir and his brother Abu Tahir in Auchi, Etsako West local government area of Edo State were arrested.
It was learnt that two of the suspects were arrested after they took their children to the same, hospital, where their victim works for medical treatment, only for the kidnapped doctor, to walk into the ward and recognise them.
It was also gathered through the statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem that the two others were nabbed by the police in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, at Warake Forest following a lead on an intelligence
According to the police statement, “The first breakthrough came on 3/2/2026, operatives of the Auchi Division, while conducting a routine bush-combing operation in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, at Warake Forest following a lead on an intelligence, intercepted one Saminu Kawujie ‘M’, a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two (2) knives, two (2)
mobile phones, one (1) UBA ATM card, and the sum of Twenty Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira (₦20,250.00)”.
Ikoedem said further that an identification parade was conducted at the Police station and he was identified as one of the abductors of Dr Abu Babatunde.
She maintained that, similarly, on 08/02/2026 at about 0900hrs, 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 ‘M’ and Sani Abubakar ‘M’, were apprehended at the hospital premises.
Both suspects have also been identified as part of the gang that abducted Dr. Babatunde on 02/01/2026. Idris Abubakar was identified as the particular person who received ransom money for the release of Dr. Abu.
“Effort 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.
Recall that the victims were kidnapped on January 2 at Auchi, while the younger brother to the doctor , Abu Tahir was killed by the abductors on January 5.
Dr Ibrahim Tahir was released on January 15, after his family paid a ransom of N50 million to the kidnappers.
