Failed kidnaps, fresh Arrests: A tough week for Edo criminals

If criminals thought the week would be business as usual in Edo State, they got a rude surprise.

From kidnappers losing their captives, to suspected gun suppliers being exposed, and highway bandits abandoning their victims and fleeing into the bush, security agencies spent the week reminding criminals that every move leaves a trail.

The biggest embarrassment came from the gang behind the Vegetable Market kidnapping. What began as a carefully planned abduction gradually unravelled as investigators followed the clues. One arrest reportedly led to another, and before long, more suspects were in custody.

The dragnet widened further when police identified a community security chief allegedly linked to the firearms used for the operation.

As detectives often say, “Criminals may erase footprints, but they rarely erase mistakes.”

Then came the Benin–Abraka Road drama.

ASP Eno Ikoedem, Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command disclosed that about 6:45 p.m on June 21, 2026, that armed kidnappers blocked a commercial bus near the NNPC Pipeline axis, fired shots and forced the driver to stop. It looked like another successful highway abduction in the making, like a scene in gangster movie, operatives of Ugo Division appeared from the blue.

The sound of gunfire quickly changed the narrative.

Faced with police resistance, the hoodlums abandoned their mission and vanished into the surrounding bush. Their intended victims were rescued unharmed, completed the journey, while the suspects began a journey of their own, one that will soon end in handcuffs. “The fastest runner is often the criminal fleeing a failed operation.”

The week also reinforced a hard lesson for criminal gangs across the state, hiding places are becoming harder to find. Whether in urban centres, rural communities or along major highways, security agencies appear increasingly willing to take the fight to those who profit from fear.

Of course, the war is far from won. Kidnappers are still active, cult violence remains a concern and many suspects are yet to face justice. But for one week at least, the scoreboard tilted in favour of law enforcement.

Kidnappers struck. Police struck back. Criminals ran. Investigators followed. The chase continues.