Edo: Police arrest suspect 20 months after Igueben train station kidnapping

The Edo State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Jonas Ehis, 20 months after being involved in the Igueben train station attack and kidnapping.

DAILY POST reports that the suspect was also arrested for the killing of one Gazali Hassan on August 31, 2024, after stealing his motorcycle.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, disclosed this on Friday while parading the suspect and 11 others for different crimes in Benin City.

DAILY POST recalls that on January 7, 2023, gunmen attacked the Igueben train station and kidnapped scores of persons.

Yamu said the suspect was arrested after a police surveillance patrol stopped a motorcycle conveying him (the suspect) and two others on September 1, 2024.

He explained that during interrogation, one Techno Spark 9 handset in the suspect’s possession rang.

“The call was put on hands-free, during which the caller stated that the owner of the phone by name Gazali Hassan went missing on August 31 with his motorcycle.

“On the strength of the revelation, the investigation was launched, and findings were that the suspects killed the said Gazali Hassan and took his motorcycle,” he said.

The command’s spokesperson added that operatives subsequently mobilised to the scene of the crime along the Idumoza pipeline in Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area and recovered the corpse.

He stated that further investigation led to the arrest of additional seven suspects who have been terrorising Edo Central senatorial district.

Yamu alleged that the suspects had been involved in the robbery at the Osigholo filling station and the deadly attack and kidnapping at the Igueben train station.

He said investigations are ongoing with a view to arresting the remaining members of the syndicate and recovering their operational weapons.

In an interview, the 26-year-old suspect said he made the sum of N2 million as proceeds from the Igueben train station attack and kidnapping.

He said he was contracted as a logistic provider for the other suspects, using his motorcycle.

“I am a motorcycle rider and I was contracted by Amenvbagbe Ogelegbe to take him and others to the train station for kidnapping.

“He (Ogelegbe) promised to pay me. So, I took them there. After everything, he gave me N2 million and said that was my share of the kidnapping,” he added.