The Edo State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate linked to the abduction of three women in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, while also recovering the body of one of the victims during ongoing rescue and recovery operations.

The incident dates back to May 9, 2026, when armed men reportedly invaded a residence in Iyowa Community and abducted three women identified as Mrs. Favour Nosakhare, 66, Mrs. Emmanuel Annabel Osasere, 28, and Miss Rejoice Otikpere, 26, before taking them into a nearby forest.

According to the police, the kidnappers later contacted the victims’ relatives through a video call, during which the women were allegedly subjected to physical abuse while the abductors demanded ransom for their release.

The development prompted an intensified response by the Edo State Police Command, with operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), supported by the Police Drone Unit, launching coordinated search-and-rescue operations across forests and suspected criminal hideouts within Ovia North-East and neighbouring communities.

On May 19, security operatives tracked members of the gang to a forested area along a powerline corridor, where a gun battle reportedly ensued. The suspects fled the scene after coming under heavy pressure from police operatives, abandoning a bloodstained jacket and spent AK-47 ammunition.

Investigators later arrested a 23-year-old suspect, identified as Musa Haruna, who was found with a gunshot wound allegedly sustained during the encounter. Police described him as a member of a notorious kidnapping and armed robbery network operating along the Benin–Lagos and Old Benin–Akure road corridors.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly provided information that led operatives to a remote forest in Ogwa Community, where two decomposing bodies were discovered on June 2.

One of the bodies was subsequently identified by family members as that of Mrs. Favour Nosakhare, one of the women abducted during the May 9 attack. Efforts are ongoing to establish the identity of the second body.

The police said investigations have been expanded to track down and arrest other members of the syndicate who remain at large, noting that intelligence-led operations are continuing across the area.

Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended personnel of the Violent Crime Response Unit and the Police Drone Unit for their commitment and professionalism, describing the arrest and recovery as a major breakthrough in the investigation.

He also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, assuring the public that the command remains determined to dismantle the criminal network and bring all those involved to justice.