Three suspected kidnappers have been killed in a gun battle involving their fellow gang members in Okpella Forest, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The incident happened late Monday night during a police operation aimed at uncovering the gang’s hideout.
The slain suspects—Usman Aliyu, Usman Mohammed, and Mohammedu Abubakar—were already in police custody and had confessed to several high-profile kidnapping cases in Edo State. Among the crimes they admitted to were the abduction of Reverend Father Philip Mario and the killing of Seminarian Peter Andrew, which occurred on March 3, 2025, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Iviukhua Community.
Police sources also revealed that the trio had confessed to the February 2025 kidnapping of the Enogie of Udo in Igueben Local Government Area.
During the late-night operation, the suspects were reportedly leading a team of operatives to their hideout in Okpella Forest when the group came under fire from other members of the kidnapping syndicate. In the confusion and heavy gunfire, the suspects tried to flee the police van and were fatally shot.
All three were rushed to the Irrua Specialist Hospital but were later confirmed dead.
Police believe the ambush was an attempt by the remaining gang members to silence the suspects before they could reveal more information about the group’s operations. Investigations are ongoing, and security forces have launched a manhunt for the fleeing attackers, some of whom may have been injured during the shootout.
Edo State has seen a rise in kidnapping incidents in recent years, especially along major highways and in forested areas used as hideouts by criminal gangs. Security agencies have been under pressure from the public to clamp down on these activities and restore peace to affected communities.
This latest development is seen as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in Edo, especially given the high-profile nature of the crimes the suspects were linked to. Police have assured residents that efforts to dismantle the remaining parts of the gang will continue without delay.
