A joint security team has killed three suspected kidnappers and rescued an abducted man, identified as Michael Akano, during an operation in the Geo Works bushes and forest in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The operation involved police officers from Igarra Division, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 195 Battalion, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Corps, ESSC.
The Edo State Police Command spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, disclosed in a statement that the operation was carried out early on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
She said the security team, acting on credible intelligence and with technical support, raided the forest bordering Otuo, where Akano had been held following his abduction on October 9, 2026.
According to Ikoedem, three suspected members of the kidnapping gang were killed during a gun battle, while other members escaped with gunshot wounds.
She added that Akano was rescued unharmed and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Items recovered from the forest included three locally made single-barrel shotguns, eight live cartridges, five spent cartridges, two cutlasses and five mobile phones of different brands, the police spokesperson said.
Ikoedem stated that the bodies of the three suspects had been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Igarra for autopsy.
She added that security operatives were continuing to comb the surrounding bushes in a bid to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Patrick Daaor, commended the joint security team for its swift response, effective coordination and courage during the operation.
Daaor also reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain intelligence-driven operations and prevent criminal groups from using parts of the state as safe havens.
“The command urges residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring the public that every actionable intelligence will be treated with the urgency it deserves, as the command remains resolute in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes,” Ikoedem said.
