‎Three suspected kidnappers behind Edo doctor’s abduction arrested in Auchi

‎Benin City, Nigeria — Police in Edo State have arrested three suspected kidnappers believed to be responsible for the abduction of a medical doctor and the killing of his younger brother in the Etsako West area of the state.
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‎The Edo State Police Command confirmed the arrests on Sunday following intelligence-led operations targeting organised criminal networks linked to recent kidnapping incidents around Auchi and its environs.
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‎The suspects were apprehended in separate incidents, according to the police. The first arrest occurred on February 3 during a bush-combing operation in Warake Forest, where officers, assisted by local hunters and vigilante groups, intercepted a suspect later identified in a parade as one of the abductors. Evidence including two knives, mobile phones, an ATM card and cash was recovered from the scene.
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‎In a dramatic development, two additional suspects were taken into custody on February 8 at the Specialist Hospital in Auchi after they reportedly returned there seeking treatment. One of these men, police allege, was involved in receiving ransom payments linked to the doctor’s release.
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‎The abduction happened on January 2, when the victims — Dr. Abu Babatunde and his younger brother, Abu Tahir — were seized at gunpoint from their residence in Igbira Camp, Auchi. While Dr. Babatunde was later freed after his family reportedly paid a ransom of ₦50 million, his brother was found dead days after the kidnapping.
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‎Police Commissioner Monday Agbonika has reassured the public of the command’s commitment to dismantling the criminal network behind the abduction and ensuring that all perpetrators are brought to justice.
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‎Investigations are ongoing as officers pursue leads that could lead to more arrests in connection with the case.
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