From Ebohon Joan
A series of security incidents across Delta State, Edo State and Abuja has drawn attention to the challenges facing law enforcement, from kidnapping and suspected cult activities to allegations of extortion by police officers, an unexplained death and concerns over the arrest of an elderly man.
The developments, recorded during the week, resulted in several arrests and the recovery of suspected weapons and other items. They also highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering, public cooperation and accountability in the fight against crime.
In Delta State, police rescued a 25-year-old woman allegedly held against her will in Usiefrun Community on October 3. A 29-year-old suspect, Brotugbare Francis Onome, was arrested during the operation.
According to the police, the rescue followed information received by the Ovwian-Aladja Division and subsequent action by officers attached to the Otu-Jeremi Division.
The victim was reportedly assaulted while in captivity. A search of the location led to the discovery of a locally made pistol resembling a Beretta, a magazine and two rounds of live ammunition.
Suspected Cult Members Arrested in Delta
In a separate operation, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit apprehended two men suspected of belonging to a cult group at a hideout in Oghara. The suspects were identified as Ezekiel Sunday Izomor, 23, and Emmanuel Ogaganefe, 23.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the arrests followed intelligence obtained from a video circulating online. The footage allegedly showed suspected cult members celebrating the killing of a 25-year-old man known as Godfrey at Jesse Main Market in Ethiope West Local Government Area on March 24, 2026.
Officers reportedly recovered a battle axe, four cutlasses and a hammer during the operation.
Preliminary findings allegedly implicated a suspect identified as Collins, who remains at large, in an attempt to seize control of the Aro Bagger confraternity and a plan to kill a rival member. Another man, Richman, said to have been close to the deceased, was also reportedly being sought by investigators.
Elsewhere in Abraka, police arrested Edwin Friday Morgan, 43, and Endurance Akpade, 37, over an alleged scheme to abduct a woman.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, praised the officers involved for their response and use of intelligence. He also called on members of the public to continue sharing useful information with security agencies.
Three Suspects Held Over Alleged Extortion in Abuja
In Abuja, complaints from motorists about alleged extortion around Transcorp Junction in Maitama led to the arrest of three men on Tuesday, October 6.
The suspects comprised two serving police officers and a former officer who had been dismissed from the Force. Police personnel were reportedly deployed to investigate after the complaint was received at approximately 2:50 p.m.
Investigators allegedly recovered 15 drivers’ licences believed to belong to different motorists. Preliminary reports indicated that some drivers had their documents confiscated and were asked to make payments before they could retrieve them.
The alleged sums ranged from ₦50,000 to ₦183,000.
Further investigations are expected to determine how the documents came into the suspects’ possession, identify the affected motorists and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported payments.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has renewed attention on police accountability and the need for officers to conduct themselves in accordance with professional standards.
AIG Calls for Discipline in Edo Police Command
Meanwhile, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Monday Agbonika visited the Edo State Police Command in Benin City on Wednesday, October 7, urging personnel to maintain discipline, professionalism and operational efficiency.
Agbonika, who previously served as the state’s Commissioner of Police, reminded officers of their duty to safeguard lives and property.
His remarks came amid several incidents that have placed policing standards and the handling of criminal investigations under public scrutiny.
AAU Lecturer Found Dead in Ekpoma Hotel
In another development in Edo State, detectives began investigating the death of Dr Matthew Uwuigbe, a lecturer in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
Uwuigbe was reportedly found dead in a hotel room on Monday, October 5. The incident led to the detention of the hotel owner, the manager and a 21-year-old woman described by the police as a sex worker.
According to the Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the woman had reportedly left the room to purchase water. She allegedly discovered the lecturer unresponsive when she returned.
His body was subsequently taken to a mortuary as investigators worked to establish the cause and circumstances of his death.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, confirmed that Uwuigbe was a member of staff but noted that the incident took place away from the institution’s premises.
He said the university recognised his employment status but regarded the circumstances surrounding the incident as a private matter.
The cause of death had not been established in the account available at the time, and the arrests did not, in themselves, establish wrongdoing by those detained.
Edo Government Explains Arrest of 90-Year-Old Man
Another incident that attracted public attention involved Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, a 90-year-old man and father of Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, an African Democratic Congress senatorial candidate for Edo South.
He was reportedly arrested at his residence in Amagba at about 4 a.m. over allegations including conspiracy, unlawful entry by force, illegal possession or trafficking of firearms, cultism and involvement in communal unrest.
The Edo State Government later said the arrest was carried out by the police following a petition submitted by some residents of Amagba Community. The clarification came after initial reports suggested that unidentified gunmen
had taken him away.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, welcomed the man’s release but questioned the decision to conduct the arrest in the early hours of the morning.
Afegbua said the manner in which the elderly man was taken into custody was unacceptable to the state government, particularly given his age and frail condition.
Police, however, offered a different account of the sequence of events. According to ASP Ikoedem, a petition against Iduoriyekemwen was first received on August 25. He was subsequently invited to make a statement and was released.
Detectives later arrested him again in connection with the same matter before releasing him following another round of questioning.
Two other suspects were reportedly arrested as investigations continued.
Intelligence Must Go Hand in Hand With Accountability
Taken together, the incidents illustrate the different demands placed on security agencies across the country. Intelligence-led operations can help locate victims, identify suspects and prevent further violence, while cooperation from residents can provide investigators with information that might otherwise remain unavailable.
However, effective policing also requires transparency, restraint and respect for due process. Allegations must be thoroughly investigated, and suspects must not be treated as guilty before the evidence is tested.
From the rescue of a woman in Delta to the extortion allegations in Abuja, the investigation into a lecturer’s death and questions surrounding an elderly man’s arrest in Edo, the week’s events underline a central principle: public safety depends not only on the ability of security agencies to act, but also on their commitment to lawful and accountable conduct.
