Benin City-In a renewed offensive against insecurity, the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers, has launched large-scale raids on criminal hideouts across the state, recovering firearms and dismantling suspected kidnappers’ camps.
The operation, supervised by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and the Governor’s Principal Security Officer (PSO), covered key flashpoints in Ovia North-East, Esan North-East, Esan West, and Esan South-East Local Government Areas.
Particular focus was placed on the Benin–Akure Road corridor, where gunmen recently abducted passengers of a transport company, New Edo Line. During the sweep, operatives recovered two locally made double-barrel guns and a live cartridge in communities including Osa-Somba and Idunwingie in Ovia North-East.
In Ugboha forest, the squad uncovered abandoned camps believed to have served as kidnappers’ hideouts. Security officials described the exercise as part of an ongoing strategy to make the state unsafe for criminal gangs.
“We received distress calls from Ugboha people reporting kidnapping incidents, and we responded with massive combing of the forests,” said squad member Idemudia Noah, who revealed that drones, military personnel, and advanced surveillance are being deployed. “The message is clear: criminals must leave Edo or face decisive action.”
Community leaders have welcomed the operation. The Okhighele of Eko-Ekpeti, Mr. Osaro Ehiozomwangie, and a resident, Mr. Ighodaro Michael, commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for personally monitoring the security response. They stressed that local hunters had been overstretched by rising kidnappings and called for greater government support in logistics and mobility.
Beyond forest raids, the squad staged a show-of-force in several communities, including Sobe, Ozalla, Iruekpen, Ekpoma, Ihunmudumu, Eguare, Irrua, Idumu Ojiezua, Ivue/Obeidu, Eror, Arue-Uromi, Egbele, Amedokhian-Uromi, and Ugboha, to reassure residents and deter criminal activity.
The multi-agency operation, involving the army, police, and local security operatives, saw personnel trekking deep into forests in search of criminal bases. While no arrests have yet been made, authorities described the raid as a preventive strike that disrupted potential kidnap operations.
Governor Okpebholo’s spokesperson, Fred Itua, said the security crackdown underscores the administration’s determination to restore peace and security across Edo State.
