Police rescue abducted couple, mother and son in Edo State

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have rescued a couple, a mother and her 14‑year‑old son from suspected kidnappers in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, disclosed this while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 in Benin City.

Agbonika said the notorious kingpin behind the kidnapping, identified as Yusuf Hassan, also known as Dogo Yellow, and nine other members of the syndicate were arrested by the operatives.

He explained that the victims and suspects were located and apprehended through the use of drone technology, high‑tech surveillance equipment, digital tracking systems and intelligence‑led policing strategies.

According to him, these technologies have markedly enhanced the Command’s operational effectiveness, particularly in combating kidnapping and violent crimes across Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts.

He added that the same tools were employed to arrest the kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorising residents in Uromi, Ewato, Emu, Okwesan, Ugboha and the broader Esan South‑East axis.

The Commissioner named the rescued victims as Mrs Ezighode Ebosele and her 14‑year‑old son, Wisdom Ebosele, and Mr Okarewagba Benth, 54, together with his wife, Mrs Okarewagba Ruth, 50.

Agbonika said the mother and son were abducted at Udomi Quarters, Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area on 1 May 2026, while the couple from the Iyowa community were taken on 8 May 2026 at about 17:10 on the Benin‑Akure Road between Ozoguo and Obazuwa communities and were rescued unharmed.

He stated that, upon receiving the kidnapping reports, the Command immediately deployed operatives from the Anti‑Kidnapping Unit together with combat drones, tracking devices and other technological assets for a coordinated rescue operation.

Through sustained aerial surveillance, technical intelligence and lawful interception of communications used for ransom negotiations, operatives succeeded in rescuing the victims unharmed and arresting the kingpin Yusuf Hassan, “Dogo Yellow,” along with nine other syndicate members.

He further noted that investigations revealed the criminal network operated as an organised enterprise with dedicated informants, food suppliers, victim trackers, ransom negotiators and armed enforcers.

“Shockingly, the syndicate was also actively recruiting new members into their criminal operations,” he said.

“The kingpin was eventually arrested in the premises of a known criminal hideout belonging to one of their collaborators on the outskirts of Ubiaja, a property that the Edo State Government has since demolished and confiscated in accordance with the state’s kidnapping laws.”

“In another development, operatives of the Edo State Police Command foiled an attempted kidnapping on 8 May 2026 at about 17:10 on the Benin‑Akure Road between Ozoguo and Obazuwa communities.”

“The police operatives, who were on intensive crime‑prevention patrol and stop‑and‑search duty at Obazuwa, responded swiftly after hearing gunshots and spotting the suspected kidnappers.”

“An exchange of gunfire ensued as the operatives, together with military personnel stationed at Obarenren, advanced toward the scene, forcing the assailants to flee into the nearby forest.”

“During the operation, two victims, Mr Okarewagba Benth, 54, and his wife, Mrs Okarewagba Ruth, 50, both of the Iyowa community, were rescued unharmed,” he added.

Agbonika said bush‑combining operations are currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects, while the area remains calm and under close security surveillance.