KEY POINTS

• Four armed individuals were arrested in Benin City, Edo State, by the Edo State Security Network after being found with stolen goods and illegal firearms.

• The suspects, traveling from Kano State, were apprehended following intelligence-led information, and investigations are ongoing to determine the origins of the stolen items and firearms.

• The police have denied false rumors claiming that the suspects were armed herdsmen, urging the public to verify information before sharing and avoid spreading panic.

In a significant move to address growing security concerns, operatives of the Edo State Security Network (ESN) arrested four individuals in separate incidents on April 12, 2025, after they were found in possession of stolen goods and an unlicensed firearm in Benin City, Edo State.

According to SaharaReporters, the arrests come just weeks after the lynching of at least 16 armed individuals in Uromi, a violent act that has sparked public fears about the influx of armed criminals in the state.

The suspects—identified as Yusuf Abdulkarim, Mujaheed Garba, Shittu Idris, and Jamilu Habibu—were intercepted by security forces at Ikpoba Hill while traveling from Doguwa in Kano State to Uvbe Community in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to a statement from the Edo State Police Command, the suspects were carrying various illegal weapons and suspected stolen property, including three Dane guns, six empty cartridges, three half-filled cartridges, four cutlasses, and two daggers.

“The command wishes to inform the public that these individuals were apprehended after receiving intelligence-led information about their movements. They were found with items they could not prove ownership of, leading to their arrest,” said CSP Moses Joel Yamu, the police spokesman.

In a follow-up search at a residence in the Navalsig area, a 25-year-old foreign national was found with an unlicensed 9mm pistol and ammunition, adding to the growing concern over the presence of illegal firearms in the region.

The suspects were promptly transferred to the Ikpoba Hill Police Station, where further investigations are underway to determine the origins of the stolen goods and firearms.

Police deny false claims of armed herdsmen

The arrest of these four individuals comes on the heels of rumors circulating in local media and social platforms, suggesting that four armed herdsmen had been apprehended at a hotel in Benin City.

However, the Edo State Police Command swiftly addressed the misinformation, clarifying that the suspects were not herders, but rather hunters traveling from Kano State.

“The Edo Command is aware of the misinformation on social media regarding the arrest of four herdsmen at a hotel. Our investigation has revealed that these individuals were hunters, not herdsmen,” CSP Yamu explained. The police also emphasized the need for the public to verify information before sharing it, as spreading false reports could heighten tension and incite unnecessary fear.

In a statement, Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, appealed to residents to be cautious about the information they circulate. “We urge the public to always verify any information before sharing. False reports only serve to create panic and disrupt peace in our communities,” he said.

Edo State authorities have assured residents that measures are being taken to investigate the suspects’ activities and ensure that security remains a priority. The arrest of these individuals highlights the ongoing vigilance of law enforcement in tackling criminal elements that pose a threat to public safety. As investigations continue, the police are calling for greater cooperation from the public to aid in combating crime in the region.