Victims Freed Unhurt After Joint Security Operation Along Lagos–Benin Expressway
Benin City, Edo State
The Edo State Police Command has rescued four kidnap victims following a coordinated operation involving police operatives and other security agencies along the Lagos–Benin Expressway.
According to the Command, the incident occurred on July 30, 2026, at about 10:40 p.m., when armed men, reportedly numbering three and dressed in vigilante uniforms, blocked the Ugbokun axis before the military checkpoint along the Lagos–Benin Expressway using logs of wood and leaves.
The suspects allegedly attacked motorists travelling along the route and abducted several occupants into a nearby forest.
Following a distress report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Okada Division immediately mobilised a joint rescue team comprising police operatives, members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), local hunters and other security stakeholders.
The security team launched an intensive bush-combing operation, deploying drone technology to aid surveillance and locate the kidnappers’ hideout.
According to the Police, the sustained pressure mounted by the joint security team forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee into the forest.
The rescued victims have been identified as:
- Muritala Babatunde
- Bello Aminat
- Otor Prince
- Yeiyah Gift
The Command confirmed that all four victims were rescued unharmed and have since been reunited with their families.
Commending the bravery and professionalism of officers and other security personnel involved in the operation, the Edo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
Police authorities disclosed that a manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects and ensure they are brought to justice.
The Command also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing investigations and operations against criminal elements.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikioedem, on behalf of the Edo State Police Command.
IBN NEWS will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as security operations progress.
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