The Edo State Police Command says it made significant security gains in the outgoing year, intensifying efforts to rid the state of criminal elements through sustained, intelligence-led operations.
Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika disclosed this on Monday in Benin City during an end-of-year security review, revealing that 377 victims were rescued from kidnappers’ dens, while 821 suspects were arrested across the state.
According to him, those arrested included 171 suspected kidnappers, 117 murder suspects, 62 persons linked to rape and other sexual offences, 239 suspected cultists, and 157 others involved in various crimes.
Agbonika said the Command also recovered 11 stolen vehicles, 188 arms of different calibres, and 422 rounds of ammunition during the period under review.
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He added that helicopters and drones from the Police Air Wing were deployed to Edo North, contributing to the success of clearance operations in the area.
The police boss urged residents to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies, stressing that security is a collective responsibility.
Reacting to reports of missing corpses from some private morgues in the state, Agbonika described the acts as criminal, inhuman, and a gross violation of the dignity of the dead and the emotions of bereaved families.
He warned that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law and advised families to patronise government-owned mortuaries where proper oversight is assured.
