Police recover kidnap victims’ bodies in Edo forest, arrest suspect

THE Edo State police command has recovered the bodies of two kidnapped victims and arrested one of the suspects in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement, yesterday by the state command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, one of the bodies has been identified as that of Favour Nosakhare (66 years), who was abducted by gunmen alongside Emmanuel Osasere (28 years), and Miss Rejoice Otikpere (26 years) on May 9.

The PPRO stated that the suspect, who was arrested with a gunshot wound, led operatives to where the decomposing bodies were recovered.

The statement read:  “It will be recalled that on May 9, 2026, three women, namely Mrs Favour Nosakhare (66), Mrs. Emmanuel Osasere (28), and Miss Rejoice Otikpere (26), were abducted by kidnappers, who invaded their residence in the Iyowa Community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State and whisked them away into a nearby forest. 

“Days after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted members of the victims’ family through a video call during which the women were seen being flogged and tortured while their captors demanded ransom for their release.

“The disturbing development heightened concerns among residents and further galvanised the Edo State Police Command into intensive efforts towards the rescue of the victims and the apprehension of the perpetrators.

“Acting on intelligence and leveraging both tactical and technological resources, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, in collaboration with the Drone Unit, commenced sustained rescue operations and aerial surveillance across identified forests and criminal hideouts within Ovia North-East and adjoining areas.

“On May 19, 2026, operatives busted the kidnapping gang along the powerline axis within the Ovia forest. The suspects engaged the police in a fierce gun duel but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the operatives. 

“As a result, the hoodlums fled into the bush with gunshot injuries. A blood-soaked jacket and expended AK-47 ammunition were recovered from the scene, while surveillance and tracking operations were further intensified.

“The painstaking investigation subsequently led to the arrest of one Musa Haruna, male, 23 years, with a gunshot injury, who is a member of the kidnapping syndicate notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery activities along the Benin-Lagos Road and Old Benin-Akure Road corridors.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the crime and led operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit into a thick forest at Ogwa Community, Ovia North-East, where two decomposing bodies were recovered on June 2, 2026.

“One of the bodies has been identified as that of Mrs. Favour Nosakhare by the family, and one of the victims abducted during the incident of May 9, 2026.”

Ikoedem said that the investigation was ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate at large, adding that tactical and intelligence-driven operations have escalated, expressing confidence that the Command would arrest other fleeing suspects.