Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Edo State have arrested a 28-year-old Nigerien national, Suleman Harruna, along with two other suspects over their alleged involvement in kidnapping activities in the state.
The spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests were carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Security Corps.
According to the police, Harruna—who had earlier been placed on the command’s wanted list—was apprehended on February 17, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m. during a security operation in Ubiaja in Esan South-East Local Government Area. The arrest followed technical intelligence gathered by operatives of the Ubiaja Police Division.
Police said the suspect, who resides in Kaba, was later identified by members of the Hausa/Fulani community as part of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating in the area. Authorities added that Harruna has made useful confessions and is assisting investigators.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, had earlier led a strategic security deployment across communities in Edo Central following reports of rising kidnapping incidents.
During the operation, Agbonika reportedly spent six days in the region between February 16 and 22 conducting on-the-spot security assessments and repositioning police personnel to strengthen operational response.
Security agencies also identified forests around Ubiaja as major security flashpoints, leading to intensified surveillance across the area.
The police said the operation subsequently led to further arrests. On February 20, 2026, another suspect, Ibrahim Kodo, from Illushi, was apprehended with the support of the Nigerian Army after a victim identified him as one of three armed men who abducted him from his farm on June 2, 2025.
Similarly, on February 26, 2026, security operatives arrested another suspect, Orsee Iorzaa, in Illushi following intelligence-led surveillance. A kidnapping victim reportedly identified him as a member of a five-man gang that stormed his residence with firearms and abducted him on February 21, 2026.
Police said investigations are ongoing to recover weapons allegedly used by the suspects and to track down other members of the criminal network.
In a related development on March 7, 2026, police operatives and members of the Edo State Security Corps carried out a bush-combing operation in the Onogholọ Forest and Akwocha Forest.
During the operation, four suspected kidnappers reportedly opened fire on the security team but were subdued after an exchange of gunfire. One suspect was killed, while three others escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene included a single-barrel shotgun, a black facial mask, two live cartridges and two expended cartridges.
Authorities said bush-combing operations are ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.