Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have rescued an abducted cattle dealer, Mr Peter Balogun, from a kidnappers’ hideout in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said Balogun was abducted suspected kidnappers on July 7, 2026, along the Igarra-Auchi Expressway, and rescued on July 15.
She said the victim was rescued by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and the Police Drone Unit following a sustained intelligence-driven operation.
According to her, the success followed sustained clearance operations in the Imoga Forest and adjoining areas, during which the kidnappers abandoned their captive on sighting the police helicopter and fled deeper into the forest.
Ikoedem said the suspects could not withstand the sustained pressure mounted by the advancing police teams, continuous drone surveillance and persistent aerial patrols.
“During preliminary debriefing, the victim informed the police that the repeated helicopter patrols created panic among his captors, compelling them to hastily abandon him and flee,” she said.
She added that the victim had since been reunited with his family.
