Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Edo State have recovered the decomposing bodies of two kidnapped victims from a forest hideout along the Benin-Lagos Expressway.
The victims were among three women abducted from their residence in Iyowa Community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The recovery followed the arrest of a suspected kidnapper by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU.
Police said the suspect is believed to be a member of a seven-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly operating along the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure highway corridors.
The victims were abducted on May 9, 2026, when armed men reportedly invaded their residence in Iyowa Community and whisked away three women.
Days after the abduction, family members reportedly received disturbing video clips showing the victims being tortured in captivity.
Police said one of the abducted women and another victim from a different family were allegedly killed by the kidnappers.
According to the police, a coordinated operation involving the Violent Crime Response Unit and the Drone Unit led operatives to the gang’s forest hideout on May 19.
A gun battle reportedly ensued between the operatives and the kidnappers, who escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
Investigations later led to the arrest of 23-year-old Musa Haruna, an alleged member of the gang.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to participating in the abduction and later guided investigators to the forest location where the bodies of the victims were recovered.
One of the surviving victims, whose mother was among those allegedly killed by the kidnappers, recounted her ordeal in captivity.
The Edo State Police Command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate believed to be responsible for a series of kidnappings along the Benin-Lagos and Benin-Akure highway corridors.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
