Edo Police arrest 18-year-old for faking kidnapping; forest operations in Ekpoma uncover 11 suspects, firearms, and ransom extortion scheme.
The Edo State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old girl, Obehi Odine, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping in Ekpoma and demanding a ransom of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) from her parents.
The incident highlights the increasing trend of fabricated abduction cases, which continue to waste police resources and create public panic.
According to ASP Eno Ikoedem, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, the case came to light following a distress call on 12th January 2026, reporting a suspected kidnapping along Old INEC Road, Ekpoma.
CSP Tomofe Nwabueze, newly appointed Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ekpoma, immediately deployed operational teams to verify the claim.
“Technical intelligence and field investigation revealed that the alleged abduction was fabricated. The suspect confessed to orchestrating the kidnapping to extort a ransom from her parents,” ASP Ikoedem stated.
This admission has brought attention to the challenges faced by the Edo Police in distinguishing genuine cases from hoaxes.
In a separate but related operation in Ubiaja, the Edo Police achieved a significant breakthrough in ongoing forest security operations.
Using a strategic bush-combing approach, officers, in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), combed through Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors, which intelligence suggested were being used by criminal networks.
During the operation, a concealed forest enclave identified through drone surveillance as a suspected kidnapping and logistics base was stormed.
This led to the arrest of eleven male suspects believed to be members of an organized kidnapping syndicate operating across the region.
Recovered from the forest hideout were twenty-four Dane guns, seventeen cutlasses, three battle axes, gunpowder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one Daylong motorcycle, and N209,700 in cash.
The police noted that these items are often used in the execution of kidnapping and other criminal activities, highlighting the need for sustained intelligence-led operations.
The Edo State Police Command has strongly cautioned the public against engaging in false kidnapping reports.
CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, Commissioner of Police, emphasized that fabricated claims divert attention from genuine emergencies, waste critical security resources, and create unnecessary panic, undermining public confidence in law enforcement.
He warned that anyone caught filing false reports would face strict prosecution.
As part of broader security measures in Ekpoma, CP Agbonika approved the reorganization of the Ekpoma Division, appointing CSP Tomofe Nwabueze as the new DPO with immediate effect.
The Commissioner reiterated the Command’s commitment to deploying technology-driven policing, intelligence-led operations, and forest domination strategies to dismantle criminal networks and prevent kidnapping and related crimes across Edo State.
This recent success underscores the critical role of collaboration between the Edo Police, the Nigerian Military, and the Edo State Security Corps in safeguarding communities.
The bush-combing strategy, enhanced with drone surveillance, has proven effective in identifying criminal hideouts, intercepting illegal firearms, and apprehending suspects involved in ransom schemes.
The public is encouraged to support law enforcement efforts by providing timely and credible information through designated channels. Emergency and complaint lines have been made available:
Emergency Control Room: 08077773721, 08037646272
Public Complaints Bureau (PCB): 08150999335
Complaints Response Unit (CRU): 08100389992
These measures are part of the Edo Police Command’s broader strategy to ensure public safety, reduce kidnapping incidents, and improve the overall security landscape of the state.
Community cooperation, combined with intelligence-led operations, remains a critical factor in tackling organized crime and deterring false ransom schemes.
With the arrest of Obehi Odine and the eleven suspects from forest operations, the Edo Police have sent a strong signal to criminals and pranksters alike: the Command is vigilant, technology-driven, and determined to maintain public safety.
The combination of community intelligence, modern surveillance, and tactical operations ensures that both real and staged kidnapping cases are swiftly identified and prosecuted.
As Ekpoma and surrounding areas continue to see enhanced police presence, residents are reassured of a safer environment, while criminals are reminded that deceptive schemes and illegal activities will face serious consequences under Edo State law.
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