EDO POLICE ARREST TWO OVER ILLEGAL FIREARMS IN BUSH-COMBING OPERATION

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Edo State Police Command has apprehended two individuals for the illegal possession of firearms during a coordinated bush-combing operation intended to eliminate criminal hideouts within the state.

In a statement released on Monday, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, named the suspects as Julius Omagbogwu (30) and Omika Musa (45).

The statement indicated that operatives from the Ehor Division, under the leadership of CSP Akwaha Steven, collaborated with local vigilante members to execute the operation on October 31, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m. in the Egbisi, Equaholor, and Uhi regions.

“The operation aimed to displace criminal hideouts utilizing the dense bushes as concealment. This effort proved successful as three single-barrel shotguns were seized, and two suspects were arrested for their involvement in the unlawful possession of firearms,” the statement detailed.

The police reported that a preliminary investigation is currently in progress, with initiatives underway to trace the origin of the firearms and dismantle the criminal network associated with the suspects.

ASP Ikoedem further noted that the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, praised the Divisional Police Officer and his team, along with the local vigilantes, for their alertness and dedication to proactive intelligence gathering.

“The Commissioner assures the community that the command is steadfast in its mission to ensure the safety of residents throughout the state, while urging citizens with any pertinent information to report it through official police channels,” the statement concluded.

Edo State has been grappling with ongoing security challenges in recent months, particularly in rural regions. Despite numerous arrests, incidents of kidnapping and armed violence continue to pose significant concerns.

On March 28, 2025, a furious mob in Uromi, Edo Central, lynched seven travelers after they were reportedly discovered with firearms in a truck heading towards northern Nigeria. The mob suspected them of being kidnappers, resulting in the deaths of seven out of the sixteen individuals attacked.

Recently, a retired headmaster, Mr. Eliaser Olorunloju, was abducted near a Fulani settlement situated between Sasaro and Ayetoro, along the Igarra–Uneme-Nekhua–Ibillo road in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

His family was reportedly asked to pay a ransom of ₦70 million by the kidnappers.

According to police reports, the recent arrests are part of a heightened effort to address rural banditry, illegal possession of firearms, and the kidnapping networks that are active in the forested areas of the state.

The command expressed, “Our objective is to restore trust and ensure that all communities throughout Edo are safe once more.”