The Edo State Police Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified efforts to track down kidnappers operating in forested areas of the state.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that operatives recently combed dense forests along the Benin-Sapele Road, believed to be a key hideout for criminals who abduct and detain victims.
The anti-kidnapping sweep was led by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, as part of a broader security crackdown.
Agbonika stated that the operation aligns with new strategies adopted by the command to clamp down on criminality, especially kidnapping and cult-related violence.
He stressed that the state police had “declared war” on all forms of insecurity threatening peace and safety in Edo.
Similar operations have been conducted in forests along the Benin-Lagos Road, where a suspected kidnapper was previously apprehended with weapons and ammunition.
Security sources say the recent forest search yielded vital intelligence and would be sustained in coming weeks.
The CP assured residents that the command was determined to restore safety to highways and communities, especially areas known to be vulnerable to kidnappers.
The Benin-Sapele axis, in particular, has witnessed multiple abduction incidents, prompting calls for stronger security presence and surveillance.
CP Agbonika appealed to the public for cooperation, urging citizens to report suspicious activities and support security efforts.
The police also reiterated their commitment to flushing out cultists and criminal gangs destabilizing local communities.
Edo State has in recent years battled a surge in kidnapping-for-ransom cases, prompting increased patrols, community policing, and joint task force operations.
Observers say the forest combing operation could mark a turning point if it leads to the dismantling of long-standing criminal hideouts.
DDM will continue to monitor the Edo security situation and provide updates on arrests and progress in the anti-kidnapping fight.