The Edo State Police Command has arrested 175 suspects for various crimes, including cultism, kidnapping, and armed robbery, between April and July 20, 2025.
Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika made the disclosure on Monday during a press conference held at the Command Headquarters in Benin City.
He said the arrests followed a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations carried out across the state.
“Out of the total arrests, 124 suspects were apprehended for cult-related activities, 40 for kidnapping, and 11 for armed robbery and other violent crimes,” Agbonika stated.
He explained that 46 of the suspects were caught with firearms, dangerous weapons, and cult paraphernalia during operations in areas such as Benin, Jattu, Auchi, Ekpoma, Igbanke, and Ikoro communities.
The police boss added that 45 assorted firearms, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally made pistols, and cut-to-size guns, were recovered.
Also seized were 163 rounds of live ammunition, five empty magazines, and several other weapons.
“We have also successfully rescued 62 kidnapped victims from their abductors,” he said. “Among them were 14 passengers from a commercial bus that was attacked. Unfortunately, a 12-year-old girl lost her life during the incident, and one passenger remains unaccounted for. We are intensifying efforts to find the missing individual.”
Agbonika raised concern over the resurgence of cultism in some parts of Edo State, noting that many of the arrested cultists had confessed to being members of banned confraternities such as the Ayes, Maphites, NBM, Eiye, and Jurists Confraternity.
“These arrests have significantly reduced the rate of inter-cult violence in the state,” he said. “We are not relenting. Our house-to-house search operations targeting cultists are ongoing.”
He commended the collaborative efforts of the police with other security agencies and members of the public, emphasizing that the success of the operations was largely due to community support and credible intelligence.
“I must also thank the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his strategic guidance, and the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his continued support. My appreciation also goes to all officers and men of the Command for their dedication and resilience,” the commissioner added.
