Davidson Ogbebor

The Edo State Police Command has recovered the decomposing bodies of two kidnapping victims from a forest along the Benin-Lagos Expressway following the arrest of a suspected kidnapper linked to a notorious seven-man kidnapping syndicate operating along the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure highways.

The breakthrough was recorded by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), who engaged members of the gang in a gun duel during an operation in the forest. One of the suspects, identified as 24-year-old Haruna Musa, was subsequently arrested while seeking treatment for gunshot wounds allegedly sustained during the encounter.

The Commander of the VCRU, CSP Osagie Godspower, led journalists and health officials into the forest where the remains of the victims were recovered.

One of the survivors, whose 66-year-old mother was among those killed, recounted the traumatic ordeal. She said armed kidnappers invaded their residence in Iyowa Community, Ekiadolor, abducting her, her mother and their maid.

According to her, three additional families were later kidnapped and brought to the same camp, bringing the total number of captives to four families.

She explained that the victims were forced to trek through the forest at night while remaining hidden during the day.

Narrating the events that led to the deaths of the victims, she said the kidnappers separated her mother, another woman and a 15-year-old boy from the rest of the captives after asking their ages.

“We initially thought they wanted to release them because of their ages, but later that evening they took them away. After some arguments, they shot the other woman, and the bullet also hit my mother. The woman died immediately, while my mother continued praying before eventually passing away. About five minutes later, they moved us to another location where they shot the 15-year-old boy, who also died,” she said.

The survivor disclosed that her family eventually paid N11 million in ransom alongside other items demanded by the kidnappers before securing their release. Other affected families also paid ransom before regaining their freedom.

Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the Command achieved a major breakthrough on May 19 when VCRU operatives sighted four members of the syndicate in the forest and engaged them in a gun battle.

She said several of the suspects escaped with gunshot injuries, prompting an intensified manhunt.

“We recorded another breakthrough a few days later when one of the suspects, Haruna Musa, was arrested while attempting to receive treatment for gunshot wounds. During interrogation, he confessed to participating in the kidnappings and led investigators to the location where the bodies of the two women were recovered. The body of the 15-year-old boy had earlier been evacuated,” she said.

The police spokesperson assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.

“We are still on the trail of the other suspects and are confident that the Violent Crime Response Unit will soon round up the remaining members of this kidnapping syndicate,” she added.

Meanwhile, the arrested suspect, Haruna Musa, admitted being a member of the gang but claimed he was drawn into criminal activities after travelling from Ogun State, where he had worked as a cattle handler.

According to him, he was invited by a relative for what he believed was another job opportunity after a cattle business during a previous Sallah celebration. He claimed he only discovered the nature of the operation after arriving in Edo State.

Musa further alleged that he feared for his life and felt compelled to remain with the gang after realizing they were involved in kidnapping activities.

Police investigations into the case are continuing as security operatives intensify efforts to dismantle the criminal network and improve security along major highways in Edo State.