The Edo State Police Command have arrested three kidnap suspects in connection with the abduction of a medical doctor, Dr Abu Babatunde, and the killing of his brother in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who revealed this during a press briefing, said the arrests followed a series of intelligence-led operations, as efforts intensify to dismantle the criminal network responsible for kidnapping activities in the area.
According to ASP Eno Ikoedem, the first major arrest was made on February 3, 2026, when personnel of the Auchi Division, during a bush-combing operation, intercepted a suspect identified as Saminu Kawujie.
A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two knives, two mobile phones, a UBA ATM card, and the sum of twenty thousand, two hundred and fifty naira, while an identification parade later confirmed him as one of the abductors of Dr Abu Babatunde.
ASP Eno further disclosed that on February 8, 2026, acting on another intelligence lead, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised operatives to the Specialist Hospital, Auchi, where two additional suspects, Idris Abubakar and Sani Abubakar, were arrested.
The suspects were also identified as members of the gang that kidnapped the doctor, with Idris Abubakar specifically identified as the individual who received the ransom paid for the doctor’s release.
“The kidnappers were arrested as a result of intelligence surveillance which our men capitalized upon to round up members of the gang,we are still trailing the remaining gang members as as the commissioner of police had earlier warned that Edo won’t be safe for kidnappers and other criminals”
