Edo police launch targeted offensive against cultists, deploy drones and surveillance

DDM News

The Edo State Police Command has launched an aggressive crackdown on cultists and criminals, vowing to confront them directly at their known locations.

Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, made the announcement during a media briefing following a major security operation across the state’s forest regions.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the Commissioner disclosed that law enforcement agents now have the names and addresses of targeted suspects and are prepared to storm their homes.

“We are now going after them in their homes,” Agbonika warned in a video aired on Channels Television.

“We have their names. This is a message to all cultists that think they can hibernate in their father’s houses or anywhere within Benin City or in the hinterlands, we are coming after them.”

The announcement came after a large-scale joint security operation involving the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The security task force carried out a coordinated sweep of known criminal hideouts within Edo State’s thick forest zones, aiming to dismantle syndicates that operate from these ungoverned areas.

Agbonika noted that the success of the operation stems from detailed mapping and surveillance of forest territories that were previously left unchecked.

“We have been studying the forest to see how we can beat this challenge, and we have resorted to this collaboration,” the Commissioner said.

In a significant technological shift, Agbonika also announced the immediate deployment of aerial surveillance technology to support the effort.

“We have acquired drones, and they are going into the forests right away,” he stated.

He emphasized the importance of technology in reclaiming spaces long dominated by criminal groups.

“We don’t want the forest to remain ungoverned territory,” Agbonika added.

This crackdown is in response to the recent resurgence in cult-related violence and kidnappings across various local government areas in Edo State.

Residents have repeatedly raised concerns over brazen activities by cult groups who have been terrorizing communities, engaging in extortion, and battling for supremacy.

Security analysts suggest that the police’s new home-targeted approach may help break the myth of impunity enjoyed by these criminal elements.

By taking the fight to their doorsteps, authorities hope to send a strong message to those who believe they can hide under family or communal protection.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the aerial component of the operation, supported by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter, provided real-time intelligence that allowed officers on the ground to close in on several hideouts.

Sources within the security circle revealed that arrests were made during the forest raids, though names and figures have not yet been officially released.

The Police Command has also reached out to local vigilante groups and traditional leaders to help identify suspects and support ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal influences.

In recent years, Edo State has struggled with a reputation for cult violence, often intertwined with political thuggery and illicit drug networks.

The new measures, including biometric tracking and drone surveillance, signal a more proactive and intelligence-led approach to community security.

Police authorities have encouraged residents to volunteer information discreetly and reassured the public that whistleblowers will be protected.

“We are determined to make Edo State safe. Nobody, no matter how highly connected, will be spared if found culpable,” Agbonika said.

Security observers believe this announcement may mark a turning point in Edo’s fight against organized cultism and rural crime.

While challenges remain, including a need for judicial support and sustained funding, the use of technology and inter-agency collaboration gives the operation a tactical advantage.

DDM will continue to monitor developments in Edo State as the police execute this bold new phase of security enforcement.

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