Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State Police command has arrested 13 murder suspects, 87 kidnappers, 14 armed robbers, 15 cultists and rescued 30 kidnapped victims in less than two months in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police CP, Monday Ogbonika revealed this during the Command’s monthly press briefing with journalists in Benin.
He said the successes were made possible through partnership with other relevant security agencies, hunters and local vigilante.
CP Ogbonika disclosed that the command also recovered six stolen vehicles, three motorcycles and 39 phones of various make.
Agbonika hinted that the command dealt a major blow to the instruments of violence, noting that a cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered, including: two fabricated AK-47 rifles, six rounds of live ammunition an AK-47 rifle with 30 rounds of live ammunition, 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, five cut-to-size single barrelled-shotguns, 28 Dane guns, a Makarov pistol, a Beretta pistol, a double-barrelled shotgun, 20 live cartridges.
He said the operations of the command has been highly inspired by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Agbetokun and the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo and the results are evidence.
According to him, “I want to commend the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for approving the deployment of Police Helicopter, other tactical intelligence support and guidance.
“Also, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State, whose magnanimous donation of a squadron of drones and other logistic support has significantly enhanced our operational capacity”
The Commissioner of Police, while reacting to the kidnapping of the Police Inspector abducted in Edo North, he said the command is working hard to ensure his immediate release.
He also said that besides the two suspected kidnappers who were involved in the kidnapping of a medical doctor and his brother who were arrested at the hospital in Edo North, more suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
He called on the citizens of the state to be security conscious as they plan to celebrate the Valentine Day just as he called for more cooperation from the members of the public in order to nip crime in the bud in the state.
