Police Arrest Suspect 20 Months After Kidnapping Incident In Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested one Jonas Ehis, nearly two years after his alleged involvement in the attack and kidnapping at the Igueben train station.

The 26-year-old was also taken into custody for the murder of Gazali Hassan on August 31, 2024, following the theft of his motorcycle.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, while presenting the suspect alongside 11 others charged with various offences in Benin City on Friday, recalled that on January 7, 2023, armed assailants targeted the Igueben train station, resulting in the abduction of numerous individuals.

On the latest arrest, Yamu indicated that Ehis was arrested and detained after a police surveillance patrol intercepted a motorcycle carrying him and two accomplices on September 1, 2024.

During the interrogation, a Techno Spark 9 mobile phone in the suspect’s possession began to ring.

“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,” the police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson for the command reported that operatives were subsequently dispatched to the crime scene located along the Idumoza pipeline in Uromi, within the Esan North-East Local Government Area, where they recovered the body.

He further indicated that ongoing investigations resulted in the apprehension of an additional seven suspects instilling fear in the Edo Central senatorial district.

Yamu claimed that these suspects were implicated in the robbery at the Osigholo filling station, as well as in the violent attack and kidnapping at the Igueben train station.

He noted that investigations are still in progress, aimed at capturing the remaining members of the criminal syndicate and retrieving their operational weapons.

In an interview, a 26-year-old suspect disclosed that he earned N2 million from the proceeds of the attack and kidnapping at the Igueben train station.

He explained that he was engaged as a logistics provider for the other suspects, utilizing his motorcycle for their operations.

“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.