The Edo State Police Command has arrested several suspects in separate criminal investigations, including a 37-year-old man accused of raping a 70-year-old woman in Igueben and suspects allegedly linked to the theft of a six-month-old baby.
According to SaharaReporters, the command also announced the arrest of seven suspected cult members in Otuo, as well as suspects allegedly involved in stripping a young girl and sharing the footage on social media around the Ekiadolor axis.
The Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, disclosed the developments during a briefing on Wednesday, saying the arrests followed intelligence-led operations conducted across the state in the past week.
Police operatives attached to the Gender and Family Unit reportedly recovered the six-month-old child after the baby was allegedly taken from Edo to Imo State. Suspects connected to the incident were arrested, while the child has since been reunited with the family.
In a separate operation, officers attached to the Otuo Divisional Police Headquarters arrested seven suspected members of a cult group following intelligence on cult-related activities in the area. The command also said suspects connected to the alleged stripping of the young girl and circulation of the footage remained in custody as investigations continued.
The 37-year-old suspect accused of raping the elderly woman in Igueben was also taken into custody, with police saying the case was under investigation and that prosecution would follow if the allegations are established. The operations formed part of a wider security exercise, including a week-long joint clearance operation in parts of Edo North, where police said no kidnapping incident was recorded during the period.
The Commissioner urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies and advised parents and young people to shun cultism. He also cautioned the public against using social media to humiliate, threaten, expose or sexually violate others, stressing that sexual violence is a criminal offence.
