Dramatic Rescue in Edo: Police Save Abducted Mother, 3 Children, Couple from Captivity
Edo State Police Command operatives have successfully rescued multiple kidnapped victims, including a mother and her three children in Okpella, and a woman in Iruekpen. These efforts are part of broader operations that led to the arrest of 22 suspects involved in various crimes across the state, showcasing a strong commitment to combating criminality.
The Edo State Police Command has recently achieved significant successes in combating crime, including the rescue of multiple kidnapped victims and the arrest of numerous suspects involved in various criminal activities. These operations highlight the collaborative efforts of police operatives with the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) and local hunters under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, and detailed by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem.
In a notable operation, police operatives successfully rescued a 40-year-old mother, Patience Omonete, and her three children, aged 14, 12, and 10. They were abducted on September 3, 2026, from their farm in the Okpella community, Etsako East Local Government Area. Upon receiving the alert, a security team comprising police, ESSC, and local hunters was immediately mobilized. They launched a coordinated rescue operation in the forest around the Onomi-Iddo axis of Okpella. The intense manhunt forced the kidnappers to abandon their victims, who were subsequently rescued unhurt and reunited with their family. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this incident.
Another significant rescue operation involved 49-year-old Rita Emma, who was abducted alongside her husband in Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area. On September 4, 2026, a joint bush-combing operation, led by the DPO Iruekpen and involving the Police Mobile Force 82 Squadron, the Nigerian Army, ESSC, and vigilantes, led to her rescue. Emma was found almost unconscious in the forest and was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention. In connection with this incident, 32-year-old Alhassan Adamu was arrested and transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation. Authorities continue their efforts to rescue the remaining victim, Rita Emma's husband, and apprehend other members of the gang.
Beyond these specific rescues, the Edo State Police Command also arrested 22 suspects in a single week across the state for their alleged involvement in various crimes. These offenses included kidnapping, murder, defilement, and armed robbery. During this period, operatives also rescued an additional five kidnapped victims unhurt. Among the arrested suspects, nine were apprehended for alleged armed robbery, seven for alleged murder, and one for rape. The Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, further revealed that some of the suspects are members of a notorious 15-man gang that has been terrorizing the Benin City metropolis and its environs. These arrests were made at different locations within Benin City, with ongoing efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.
The Edo State Police Command reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens, with continuous operations aimed at bringing all perpetrators of crime to justice and rescuing any remaining victims from captivity.