IGThe Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of 37 suspects for alleged involvement in cases of sexual and domestic violence across various parts of the state. The arrests form part of the command’s intensified efforts to combat the rising incidence of Gender-Based Violence and other related crimes.
Addressing journalists in Benin City on Saturday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Agbonika, disclosed the figures while presenting the command’s operational achievements for the month of September 2025.
According to him, the arrests were the result of deliberate and coordinated operations aimed at curbing sexual abuse, rape, and domestic violence in line with the state’s renewed commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children.
CP Agbonika lamented the disturbing rise in reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence, describing it as a “serious social and moral concern” that requires joint action by law enforcement, families, and community stakeholders.
“The command has successfully apprehended 37 suspects for their alleged involvement in sexual and domestic abuse across different local government areas of Edo State. All the suspects have been investigated and are currently being prosecuted in court,” he stated.
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He reaffirmed the police command’s resolve to pursue justice for victims and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law, warning that such crimes would not be tolerated under his leadership.
Beyond GBV-related crimes, CP Agbonika revealed that the command had also made significant progress in tackling kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, and cult-related violence.
He announced that seven suspected kidnappers were arrested during the month under review, while two others were neutralised in the course of operations.
The commissioner also disclosed that 48 kidnapped victims were rescued safely from various hideouts in coordinated rescue operations carried out across the Benin, Auchi, Ekpoma, and Ehor divisions.
“These rescues were made possible through the combined efforts of our intelligence units, tactical teams, and local vigilante groups working in synergy with the command,” he said.
In a notable breakthrough, Agbonika reported that the command’s anti-cultism unit had successfully disrupted several cult initiation ceremonies in Benin City, Auchi, and Ekpoma.
These operations, he explained, led to the arrest of 38 suspected cultists, including leaders of rival groups who were planning violent clashes.
He further disclosed that through these proactive interventions, cult-related killings in Benin City had dropped to zero per cent during the month under review — a milestone he described as “a clear result of sustained intelligence gathering and rapid response.”
“The command will continue to clamp down on all forms of cultism and youth violence. We are committed to making Edo State a safe environment for businesses, students, and families,” he affirmed.
The police commissioner listed several items recovered during operations across the state, including:
Eight (8) firearms,Fifty-six (56) live ammunition,Five (5) expended cartridges,Nine (9) vehicles, Eighteen (18) motorcycles,Six (6) car master keys,Ten (10) University of Benin Security Access Cards Nine (9) Apple iPhones and one Android device, Two (2) POS machines
Agbonika noted that many of the recovered vehicles and motorcycles were stolen property, some of which had already been returned to their rightful owners after verification.
