Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a suspected kidnapper after a fierce gun battle during a coordinated raid on Ekeke Forest, near Ekpoma in Edo Central.

The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said the operation was part of sustained, intelligence-led efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks that have terrorised communities in the area. Acting on credible information about the movement of suspected kidnappers, officers from the Ekpoma Division advanced into the forest at first light, supported by the Edo State Security Corps, local hunters and vigilante groups.

As the team pushed deeper into the bush, they reportedly came under heavy fire from armed suspects. The officers returned fire and, after a brief exchange, managed to isolate and arrest one of the alleged gang members, identified as 27-year-old Usman Abdulkarim. Other members of the gang were said to have fled further into the forest with their weapons.

A search of the immediate area led to the recovery of three mobile phones, two ropes and a small amount of cash. Police believe the items may be linked to previous kidnap operations and have registered them as exhibits while investigators work to trace possible victims and accomplices.

In a separate but related operation at the Era Bush axis, two other suspected kidnappers abandoned a red Boxer motorcycle and escaped on foot after spotting advancing security operatives. The motorcycle has been impounded as part of ongoing investigations.

Ikoedem said the arrested suspect is in custody and undergoing interrogation, while a manhunt has been launched for the fleeing gang members. She stressed that the command is intensifying follow-up operations, including further bush-combing and surveillance, to recover firearms and disrupt remaining cells.

The latest raid comes against the backdrop of recent protests in Ekpoma, where residents took to the streets to demand stronger government action against rampant abductions. In response, security agencies have stepped up joint operations, deploying drones and other technology to locate criminal hideouts.

Daily bush-combing exercises, according to security sources, have already led to multiple arrests and a noticeable drop in reported kidnap incidents across parts of the state. Earlier this month, troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, working with the Air Force, police, civil defence and the Edo State Security Corps, arrested several suspected kidnappers and drug peddlers during a clearance operation targeting criminal enclaves in Edo North.

The Edo State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to proactive, intelligence-driven policing to safeguard lives and property and urged residents to continue providing timely information on suspicious activities.