Edo Police Dismantle Kidnap Gang, Arrest Key Informant, Recover Decomposing Body of Victim in Forest Operation

Operatives from the Edo State Police Command have successfully dismantled a kidnapping syndicate responsible for the abduction and murder of a 42-year-old man. The operation led to the arrest of a crucial informant within the group and the grim discovery of the victim's decomposing remains hidden deep in a forest.

According to a statement from the command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the victim, identified as Edafe Oghenekome, was kidnapped alongside another individual named Favour Ighasa from their residence on February 4, 2026. The abduction sparked immediate concern among family members and local authorities, prompting an intensive investigation and search effort.

Police sources indicate that the syndicate had been operating in the area, targeting residents for ransom demands. Following credible intelligence and sustained tracking, officers traced leads to a forested location where the criminals were believed to be holding or had disposed of their victims. In a coordinated raid, detectives arrested one key suspect described as an informant who had allegedly provided critical details about potential targets and facilitated the gang's movements.

The success came when the arrested informant led officers to the spot in the forest where Edafe Oghenekome's body had been abandoned. The remains were found in an advanced state of decomposition, confirming fears that the victim had been killed shortly after the abduction. Authorities have not released details on the exact cause of death pending autopsy results, but the discovery has deepen the brutal nature of these crimes.

This latest success builds on the Edo State Police Command's ongoing campaign to curb kidnapping and related violent offenses. Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika has repeatedly emphasized a zero-tolerance approach, directing intensified intelligence-led operations, bush-combing exercises, and collaboration with sister security agencies. In recent months, the command has recorded numerous arrests of suspected kidnappers over 80 in one reported sweep alone along with the rescue of several victims and the dismantling of hidden camps in remote forest areas.

The arrest of the informant is particularly noteworthy, as such individuals often play a shadowy but essential role in these networks by gathering information on wealthy or vulnerable targets, scouting locations, or even negotiating ransoms. By apprehending this person, police believe they have disrupted the syndicate's ability to plan and execute future operations effectively.

Local residents in the affected communities have expressed relief mixed with sorrow over the outcome. Many have lived in fear of nighttime abductions, with criminal groups exploiting isolated roads and dense bush areas to carry out their activities. The recovery of the body, though tragic, provides some closure for the victim's family, who had been anxiously awaiting news since the incident.

Police have assured the public that efforts are continuing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who may have fled during the operation. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full chain of events, including any ransom demands that were made and whether additional victims were involved.

The Edo State Police Command has urged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities promptly, and cooperate with security agencies. "We are committed to making Edo unsafe for criminals," a senior officer reiterated, vowing that operations like this will persist until the threat is significantly reduced.