JUST IN: Edo police arrests 18-year-old girl, 11 others for suspected kidnapping

The Police in Edo State on Tuesday, January 13, confirmed the arrest of an 18-year-old girl, Obehi Odine, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping in Ekpoma.

The command noted that eleven other suspected kidnappers were also arrested by officials during a separate raid in the Ubiaja area of the state.

Noting that this effort made by the command is aimed at nipping the rising cases of kidnapping in Edo State, the police said Odine staged her abduction along Old INEC Road, Ekpoma.

According to a statement by the police, the self-kidnap suspect had demanded a N10 million ransom for her release but was subsequently arrested following technical intelligence and field investigations.

In other news, a joint team comprising the police, the Nigerian military, and the Edo State Security Corps combed the bush and forest around Akwocha Camp, Ubiaja, leading to the arrest of other suspects.

Acting on drone-supported intelligence, operatives raided a suspected kidnapping camp and arrested 11 male suspects believed to be members of an organised kidnapping syndicate.

Some of the items recovered during the raid included 24 Dane guns, cutlasses, battle axes, charms, a motorcycle, solar panels, mobile phones, and N209,700 cash.

The exercises, the Edo Police said, follow an order by the State’s Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, with CSP Tomofe Nwabueze deployed as the new Divisional Police Officer.

The Police also warned residents against false kidnapping reports, noting that offenders will be prosecuted. The Force also reaffirmed its commitment to technology-driven and intelligence-led policing across Edo State.