43 SUSPECTED criminals alleged to have engaged in various criminal activities have been arrested by men of the Edo State Police command.
The 43 suspects were arrested following a police tip-off.
According to the Standard Gazette report, the suspects have been terrorising Benin city and other parts of Edo state.
The suspects’ breakdown showed that 17 suspected armed robbers were arrested, 13 cultists, 11 kidnapping suspects, and three ritual suspects.
Also arrested were six murder suspects, five suspects for unlawful possession of firearms and one rape suspect.
Two kidnapped victims were rescued.
Weapon recovers from alleged suspects
The police also confirmed that eight suspects were killed during operation while 2 AK 47 rifles were recovered with eight locally made guns and 109 live ammunition.
According to the suspects “my friend encouraged me to join him in this kidnapping venture.”
“I am an orphan and need money to survive”.
“The leader of our gang brought us to Edo state. He first kept us in Auchi before we arrived Benin city”.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Philip Ogbadu commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu and Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki for their support in smashing the criminals.
CP Ogbadu solicited for the cooperation of the people of Edo state in checking criminal activities.
He appealed to all residents of the state to report any suspicious character to the police for immediate action.
Other items recovered from the suspects include mobile phones, Dummy guns and cars.