Nigerien Kidnap Suspect Arrested in Edo State Operations

Suleiman Haruna, a 28-year-old Nigerien citizen residing in Kabba, Kogi State, was arrested by the Edo State Police Command on February 17, 2026. His arrest followed a series of intelligence operations aimed at dismantling a notorious kidnapping gang within the Hausa-Fulani community.

The police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that Haruna had been declared wanted and was suspected of aiding ongoing investigations. The operation, termed "Oper Ubiaja," was initiated to assess security situations in Edo Central, particularly around Ubiaja, where major security flashpoints were identified.

Following this, on February 20, 2026, another suspect, Ibrahim Kodo, aged 25, was arrested; he was linked to a kidnapping incident involving three armed men on June 2, 2025. Additionally, on February 26, 2026, Orsi Iorzaa, aged 32, was apprehended after a joint operation led to the identification of a five-man gang involved in a residential abduction on February 21, 2026.

The police continue to pursue other gang members who escaped with gunshot wounds.