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The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has apprehended 18 individuals suspected of involvement in kidnapping and armed robbery along the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi axis.
The operation also led to the recovery of 38 locally made firearms, pellets, and various charms.
The Corps Commandant, Friday Ibadin, a retired police commissioner, disclosed this development on Saturday in Benin.
According to him, the arrests were made during a security sweep near Eguedion Camp, close to an Army checkpoint along the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Road.
Ibadin revealed that 17 of the 18 suspects are non-indigenes of Edo State.
He reassured residents that the state government remains committed to ensuring their safety, particularly as the farming season approaches. He also pledged to intensify efforts to eliminate criminal activities in the state.
“During our patrol along the Benin-Auchi Road near Eguedion Camp, our operatives spotted two individuals carrying firearms.
“Upon noticing security personnel, they attempted to flee but were pursued to a hideout where 18 suspects were arrested,” Ibadin stated.
He further emphasized that security personnel will continue to conduct thorough searches of the forests while educating local communities on crime prevention.
He assured that Edo remains a safe environment for all residents.
While handing over the suspects to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Agbede, Ibadin stressed the need for greater cooperation between security agencies to effectively curb crime in the region.
The ESSC’s recent crackdown aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s directive for security forces to rid the state of criminal elements.
The governor’s order aims to safeguard Edo’s rural areas and forests, ensuring the safety of farmers and residents.