Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested an 18-year-old suspected kidnapper, identified as Mohammed Zaradeen Saleh, during a raid on a forest along the Ewu–Auchi Road.

The arrest followed what police described as credible intelligence from a resident who reported suspicious movements by a group believed to be kidnappers operating within the area. Acting on the tip-off, officers from Police Mobile Force Base 82, Uromi, moved swiftly into the forest corridor, a stretch that has long been regarded by commuters as vulnerable to criminal attacks.

According to a statement from the command, the suspected kidnappers attempted to flee on sighting the advancing officers. A chase ensued through the thick undergrowth, during which Saleh was apprehended while three other suspects managed to escape.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Saleh is a member of an organised kidnapping syndicate that has been operating around the Ewu–Auchi axis. Police said the suspect has already provided useful information, including the identities of two alleged accomplices, named as Musa Shedau and Abdulmumini, who are believed to be in possession of the gang’s firearms.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoede, confirmed the arrest and disclosed that a manhunt has been launched for the fleeing suspects. She said tactical teams have been deployed to comb surrounding forests and possible hideouts, with a view to apprehending the remaining gang members and recovering their weapons.

Security sources within the command indicated that investigators are also probing whether the syndicate is linked to previous abduction cases reported along major routes in Edo and neighbouring states. The Ewu–Auchi corridor, a key link between several communities and commercial hubs, has in recent years drawn increased security attention due to sporadic incidents of armed robbery and kidnapping.

The police urged residents and road users to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities, stressing that timely information from the public was crucial to the latest breakthrough. The command reiterated its commitment to sustaining patrols and intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring confidence among travellers in the state.