The Edo State Police Command has arrested nine suspects for alleged involvement in kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other related offences across Benin City.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the arrests were made during intelligence-driven operations carried out within the past week in different parts of the metropolis.
According to her, the operational successes followed sustained intelligence-led patrols, rapid response to distress calls and proactive crime-fighting strategies under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika.
Ikoedem said that in the early hours of Saturday, January 25, 2026, police operatives received credible intelligence about repeated gunshots from a residence along Erediuwawa Street, off Sapele Road, Benin City. Operatives of the Eagle Crack Unit were immediately deployed to the area, leading to the arrest of one Emmanuel Omorodion, 41, after a hot chase, while other suspects escaped.
She said a double-barrel gun and one live cartridge were recovered from the suspect.
The police spokesperson added that operatives of the Intelligence Rapid Response Team (IRT) also acted on actionable intelligence regarding cult-related criminal activities in the Eyaen axis of Benin City. The intelligence revealed that a suspected criminal gang involved in kidnapping, extortion, cultism and other violent crimes was holding a meeting at Ibojije Hotel, Eyaen.
A raid on the location led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin, Usifo Omojale, along with five other suspects.
“The suspects, Imafidon Jesurobo Frank, 31; Godstime Iliyoma, 23; Lukeman Itsagwode, 38; Usifoh Omomgiade, 31; and Ibhafidon Omonkhegbe, 35, have all confessed to being members of the Aye confraternity cult,” Ikoedem said.
She noted that investigations were ongoing to dismantle the entire network, adding that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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In another operation on Thursday, January 23, 2026, at about 2:40 a.m., operatives of the Ugbor Division, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Network, responded to a distress call over an armed robbery incident at Uwadia Street, off Ogunmenyi Community.
One suspect, Gondas Innocent, was arrested after sustaining pellet injuries during an exchange of gunfire, while another suspect, Tasman Nanman, was later arrested at an uncompleted building identified as the gang’s hideout.
Items recovered from the suspects included three machetes, one laptop, one Apple iPhone, a clipper and some clothing items.
Ikoedem assured that investigations into all the cases were ongoing and that all suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustained patrols, intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the state, while urging residents to continue to provide timely and credible information to the police.
She also disclosed that the command had earlier arrested at least 14 suspects over cult-related activities involving the hijacking of a corpse and an attempt to disrupt a burial ceremony, during which two commercial motorcyclists were injured.