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 In a decisive operation that has dealt a significant blow to kidnapping syndicates terrorising parts of Edo State, troops of the Nigerian Army's 4 Brigade under 2 Division, working in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, have neutralised a notorious kidnapper and successfully rescued four victims who had been held captive in a forest hideout. The breakthrough came during a night patrol on March 3, 2026, as part of Operation IGBO DANU 1 in the dense Warake Forest, located in the Auchi area of Etsako West Local Government Area (with some reports indicating links to Owan East). Troops responded swiftly to reports of gunshots echoing through the forest, launching a rapid pursuit that led to a fierce gun battle with the armed group. According to a statement from the Nigerian Army, the gallant troops engaged the criminals, who opened fire upon sighting the security forces. In the intense exchange, a suspected kidnap kingpin—described as a notorious figure who had long terror...

  The Yoruba and Edo should see one another as brothers. We should do away with the issue of superiority over the other. Since we were not there we should avoid contesting on who came from who, since those that experienced it are no more. We should maintain that we are related and that in the past we had two great empires which are that of the Benin and Oyo. Those who were in the Oyo fold were made up of people of different ethnicity, but mostly the Yoruba-speaking; while the Benin had the Edo-speaking, the Yoruba-speaking and many non-Edo and Yoruba-speaking. This is a know fact. It does not take away anything from us. We should search for unity, harmony, love, integration and progress; and not disunity, hatred, lies, hate speech and so on. Let we put in mind that we are brothers united by a common figure, warrior and king called Oduduwa, and not contest on where he came from and who he gave birth to. He revolutionized our history and not destroy it. The Yorubas should teach their...

  The Edo State Government has officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak following the confirmation of 28 laboratory-positive cases and six deaths linked to the viral hemorrhagic disease. Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, announced the development during a press briefing in Benin City on Friday. He highlighted a noticeable surge in infections, particularly in Etsako West and Esan West Local Government Areas, indicating sustained community transmission that demands urgent and coordinated action. “As of today, Edo State has recorded 28 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lassa Fever with six reported deaths,” Dr. Oshiomhole stated. “The recent increase in cases signals sustained community transmission that requires immediate, escalated response.” Lassa fever, a viral illness endemic in parts of West Africa including Nigeria, is primarily transmitted through contact with urine or droppings of infected multimammate rats, or through person-to-person spread via bodily f...

  Suspected kidnappers have struck twice in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, abducting five persons including a serving police officer in separate incidents that have heightened fears over rising insecurity in Edo North. The first attack occurred on February 8 at the Makeke Primary Health Centre in Makeke village, less than a kilometre from Ososo. Gunmen stormed the facility and abducted Tope Oriloye, a female secondary school student, and Samuel Ilesanmi, who had taken his sick child to the centre accompanied by his wife. In a related but separate operation, another group of kidnappers invaded the home of Police Inspector Segun Obanowa in Auchi (from the Uma/Imoga area), abducting him, his wife, and their daughter. The wife was subsequently released to source ransom for the freedom of her husband and daughter. Local sources and reports indicate that the abductors have contacted the families of Oriloye and Ilesanmi, demanding a staggering ₦100 million ransom for their ...

 EKPOMA PROTEST: HEAVY SECURITY DEPLOYED TO CURB CRIMINALITY; 52 SUSPECTS ARRESTED, CLEARS MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA The Edo State Police Command wishes to provide update on the Ekpoma protest and ongoing security operations in the area.  The Commissioner of Police CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, has personally supervised heavy deployment of personnel in Ekpoma, in company of the Commander Mechanized 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Olatunboju Balogun, to personally see to the deployment of personnel in collaboration with sister security agencies including the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Security Corp (ESSC) and Hunters to sustain public safety and tackle the issue of kidnapping and other criminal activities.  Following investigations into the disruption of a peaceful protest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, a total of fifty-two (52) persons suspected to have participated in violent acts of vandalism, assault occasi...