- Safiu Kehinde
The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three kidnap suspects in connection to the abduction of Dr. Abu Babatunde and the death of his brother.
NPO Reported that Dr. Babatunde and his brother were kidnapped late last year.
The doctor’s brother was unfortunately killed while in captivity.
Babatunde would however be released after payment of ransom by the family.
In an update on the case contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the police disclosed recording the first arrest last week Tuesday.
According to the statement, officials attached to the Auchi Police Division, alongside local hunters and vigilante groups, embarked on a bush-combing operation at Warake Forest where the first suspect was caught.
“The first breakthrough came on 3/2/2026, operatives of the Auchi Division, while conducting a routine bush-combing operation in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, at Warake Forest following a lead on an intelligence, intercepted one Saminu Kawujie ‘M’, a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two knives, two mobile phones, one UBA ATM card, and the sum of N20,250.00.
“An identification parade was conducted at the Police station and he was identified as one of the abductors of Dr Abu Babatunde.” The statement partly read.
The arrest of the first suspect with information gotten from him would lead to the arrest of two other suspects who were apprehended at a hospital on Sunday.
“Similarly, on 08/02/2026 at about 0900hrs, the Divisional Police Officer following a lead on the same case mobilized operatives to the Specialist Hospital, Auchi, where two suspects identified as Idris Abubakar ‘M’ and Sani Abubakar ‘M’, were apprehended at the hospital premises. Both suspects have also been identified as part of the gang that abducted Dr. Babatunde on 02/01/2026.
“Idris Abubakar was identified as the particular person who received ransom money for the release of Dr. Abu.” The statement read further.
The police reiterated ongoing efforts towards conducting a comprehensive and discreet investigation aimed at dismantling the entire notorious organized criminal network responsible for the kidnappings in Auchi and its environs.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, reassured members of the public of the Command’s resolve to pursue all kidnapping cases to a logical conclusion and bring perpetrators to justice.
He affirmed that aggressive bush-combing operations and intelligence-led policing will continue across the State.