Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have recovered the bodies of two women who were abducted and later killed by their captors, despite a ransom payment of N11 million.
The victims were kidnapped on May 9, 2026, in Isiukhu Community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, after armed men stormed their residence.
Days after the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the victims’ families via video call, showing the women being tortured while demanding ransom.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Command intensified rescue efforts using both tactical operations and aerial surveillance across suspected hideouts in the region.
A breakthrough came on May 19 when police operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle along a forest corridor near a powerline. The suspects fled with gunshot injuries, leaving behind evidence including a blood-stained jacket and spent ammunition.
Related News:
Police Nab Two Suspected Robbers in Edo Hotel
Decorator Killed After Funeral Job In Edo
Tragedy in Edo as Man Allegedly Kills Father Over Food
Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers in Edo After Jattu Market Tip-Off
Edo Police Arrest Man With 36 Live Cartridges During Stop-and-Search
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of a 23-year-old suspect, Musa Haruna, who sustained gunshot wounds. During interrogation, he confessed to being part of a seven-member kidnapping syndicate operating along the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure expressways.
Haruna later guided police operatives to a forest in Ogwa Community, where two decomposing bodies were exhumed on June 2. One of the victims was identified by her family as 66-year-old Mrs. Favour Nosakhare.
Family members disclosed that the ransom was paid along with other demands before her death, raising further concerns about the increasing brutality of kidnapping operations in the region.
Police authorities have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang who remain at large, emphasizing that intensified intelligence-driven operations are underway.
The Command reiterated its commitment to bringing all perpetrators to justice and curbing criminal activities across the state.
About the Author
