Police authorities in Edo say they have made a series of breakthroughs in their efforts to strengthen security and protect lives and property across the state.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, stated this during a press briefing in Benin City, where he disclosed that they have intensified intelligence-led operations, inter-command collaboration, and highly mobile patrols to prevent criminals from using the state as a haven.

Daaor said the command had arrested several suspects in connection with alleged sexual offences involving minors. He disclosed that suspects in separate cases involving 13, 15 and 11-year-old girls had been charged to court and remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre, while investigations were ongoing in other reported cases.

The Commissioner also disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with the alleged defilement of a 14-year-old girl in Okpella and an eight-year-old girl in New Etete. According to the commissioner, a 21-year-old man was arrested over the alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old male apprentice, with investigations into the cases continuing.

On crime prevention, Daaor said the Command recovered a Lexus 350 saloon car hours after armed hoodlums invaded a compound at Iduowinna Community, Benin City, and robbed residents of valuables. He also announced the recovery of two Toyota Highlander SUVs suspected to have been stolen or abandoned at Five Junction, off Iheya-Uselu Lagos Road.

He disclosed the recovery of three locally made Beretta pistols concealed in a sack of unripe plantains abandoned at a transport company in Akpakpava. He said a 27-year-old suspect was subsequently arrested and allegedly confessed to belonging to the Aiye Secret Cult Confraternity.

According to him, another operation at Egbaen Community, off Ekenhuan Road, led to the arrest of four suspected cult members and the recovery of four locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol and a cut-to-size double-barrel gun. He said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the group.

Daaor also said that two suspected members of a kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate arrested at Okada in June had led operatives to a forest bordering Abudu in Edo State and Obiaruku in Delta State, where additional weapons and 58 rounds of AK-47 ammunition were recovered. He said the Command was pursuing other members of the syndicate.

He said two suspects were also arrested over the alleged vandalism of transmission facilities along the Benin-Idogbo Road, with television master control room equipment valued at about N150 million recovered from them.

On kidnapping, Daaor disclosed that operatives of the anti-kidnapping Unit rescued a woman who was allegedly lured to a residence in Ogheghe Community through TikTok under the guise of a romantic date and subsequently held captive for ransom. He said N500,000 was reportedly paid for her release before the police rescued her and arrested a suspect. (Channels)