21/07/2025
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE EDO STATE COMMAND CP MONDAY AGBONIKA, fdc – MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025
Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is with a deep sense of service and responsibility that I welcome you all to this press briefing, which is intended to update the good people of Edo State and the wider public on the progress made by the Edo State Police Command in our unwavering efforts to combat crime and ensure public safety.
2. Within the period between April and 20th July, 2025, through coordinated intelligence-driven operations, community support, and inter-agency collaboration, the Command has made significant strides in tackling criminal elements across the state. I am pleased to present the following highlights:
3. RECOVERY OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION
The Command has recovered a total of: forty-five (45) assorted fi****ms, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally made pistols, and cut-to-size guns including :-
One sixty-three (163) rounds of live ammunition, five (5) empty magazines.
4. These recoveries were made through credible information/intelligence, during stop-and-search operations, raids on criminal hideouts, and encounters with armed hoodlums in various parts of the state including Benin, Auchi, Uromi, Iyamho and Ekpoma.
5. KIDNAP RESCUE OPERATIONS
During this period, the Command has successfully rescued sixty-two (62) kidnapped victims, including women and children, in operations carried out in the forests around Ewohimi, Fugar, Okpella, Uromi, Agenebode, and the Benin-Lagos expressway.
6. In one of the most recent breakthroughs, a coordinated operation involving police tactical teams, vigilante groups, and hunters led to the rescue of 14 passengers who were abducted on the Fugar-Agenebode road. Sadly, we lost one young victim, a 12-year-old girl, to the reckless violence of the kidnappers. One (1) person is still unaccounted for. However, efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the missing individual.
7. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERS, KIDNAPPERS AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMINALS
In various operations, a total of forty (40) suspected kidnappers have been arrested. Among them, several were caught in the act. Eleven (11) other suspects were arrested for armed robbery and other violent crimes.
8. Exhibits recovered include fi****ms, stolen vehicles, electronics, and cash. Notably, one (1) armed robbery/kidnap suspect was neutralised while robbing commuters on the Auchi-Okpella expressway, and one (1) fabricated shotgun with four (4) live and five (5) expended cartridges were recovered.
9. CRACKDOWN ON CULT-RELATED VIOLENCE
Cultism remains a major concern in parts of the state. The Command has intensified its efforts through the ongoing house to house search of cultists and has so far arrested one hundred and twenty-four (124) suspected cultists, many of whom have confessed to belonging to proscribed confraternities such as the Maphites, Ayes, NBM, Jurists Confraternity and Eiye.
10. Forty-six (46) suspects were apprehended with fi****ms in Benin City, while others were arrested in Jattu, Auchi, Ekpoma, Igbanke, Ikoro community etc with dangerous weapons and cult paraphernalia. These arrests have helped to significantly reduce the wave of inter-cult violence that recently plagued parts of the state.
11. GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY POLICING
The Command continues to strengthen community policing frameworks across local government areas. Regular engagements with traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and religious institutions have helped in intelligence gathering and early warning systems.
12. I commend the patriotic efforts of community vigilantes and hunters who have worked with us to achieve these successes. Therefore, we reiterate our commitment to proactive and the all of society approach to policing.
13. As the Senatorial and Federal Constituency Bye Elections slated for August 16 2025 approaches, the Inter-Agency Consultative Election Security (ICCES) for the state has since been activated to ensure hitch-free exercise. The primaries were successfully conducted between July 17 and 21st.
14. CONCLUSION
The Edo State Police Command remains fully committed to its mandate of protecting lives and property. We urge members of the public to continue to support the police by providing timely and credible information. We also call on all law-abiding citizens to remain vigilant, observe security protocols, and report suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.
15. I must also take this opportunity to appreciate the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM for his guidance, the Executive Governor of Edo State Sen. Monday Okpebholo, for his support, as well as all officers and men of the Command for their tireless efforts.
16. Let it be known that Criminals are not welcome in Edo State. is not a haven for criminals. We will not rest until every corner of this state is safe and secure for all residents.
Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
