Tragedy Strikes As Edo State Security Operation Rescues 14 From Kidnappers.
A daring rescue operation in Edo State has resulted in the tragic death of a 12-year-old girl, with 14 other kidnapped victims successfully freed from the clutches of armed kidnappers, police authorities confirmed on Saturday, 12 July 2025. The incident, which unfolded along the Fugar-Agenebode road in Etsako East Local Government Area, highlights the persistent security challenges plaguing the region.
According to the Edo State Police Command, the operation was launched following a distress call received on Friday evening, 11 July 2025, at approximately 7:20 p.m. Armed men, suspected to be kidnappers, had ambushed commuters, blocked the busy highway, and opened fire, killing two individuals on the spot and abducting several others into the nearby forest. In a swift response, a combined team of police operatives from Agenebode, alongside local vigilantes and hunters, pursued the assailants, engaging them in a fierce gun battle along Obe Hill, near the pipeline route to Ajaokuta.
The security team successfully rescued 14 kidnapped passengers unharmed. However, during the crossfire, a 12-year-old girl was fatally shot by the fleeing kidnappers, casting a shadow over the operation’s success. One female victim remains unaccounted for, with ongoing search efforts to ensure her safe recovery, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu.
The Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Monday Agbonika, commended the bravery and swift response of the joint security team. He expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased girl, assuring the public that every effort is being made to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. “This was a brazen act of violence, but the courage of our operatives and local partners ensured the safe rescue of most victims. We remain committed to making Edo State safe,” Agbonika stated.
Yamu urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement, and provide timely information to aid ongoing investigations and security operations across the state.
The incident underscores the escalating security challenges in Edo State, where kidnapping and cultism have become rampant, particularly in areas such as Benin City, Ekpoma, and Auchi. In response, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has launched a new security initiative, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists.” Announced on Sunday, 13 July 2025, the operation includes the formation of a Special Security Squad comprising repentant cultists, local hunters, and community vigilantes, tasked with rooting out criminal elements across the state’s 18 local government areas.
Governor Okpebholo emphasised a zero-tolerance stance on crime, stating, “We will not allow criminality to dictate the future of our state. Edo must become safe again for our children, for investors, and for those in the diaspora who wish to return home.” The initiative draws inspiration from a similar civilian anti-cult group launched in Ekpoma in 2016, which significantly reduced cult violence and kidnappings in the area.
The Fugar-Agenebode road attack is part of a troubling wave of insecurity in Edo State. On the same day as the rescue operation, the Chief Imam of Uromi and President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Edo-Delta Chapter, Sheikh Murtadho Muhammad, was reportedly kidnapped in the Angle 90 area of Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area. The abductors have demanded a ransom of N30 million, prompting widespread concern among the Muslim community and calls for government action to secure his release.
Nigeria’s broader fight against kidnapping is supported by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, which prescribes severe penalties, including the death sentence for abductions resulting in loss of life and life imprisonment where no lives are lost. The recent operation in Edo State reflects the challenges of enforcing such laws in high-risk areas, where armed groups continue to terrorise communities.
As “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists” takes shape, hopes are high that Edo State can reclaim its streets from criminal elements. The tragic loss of a young life during the rescue operation serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in combating kidnapping and the urgent need for coordinated efforts between security forces, community leaders, and citizens.
