The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, announced on Wednesday that over 95 suspected cultists have been arrested and charged to court within the past month.

Agbonika revealed that 25 firearms, including two AK-47 rifles, 130 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 135 live cartridges, and four stolen vehicles were recovered during this period.

Other items seized include a Lar Mark rifle, three English pistols, one Beretta pistol, four single-barrel guns, cash, and an iPhone 16 Plus.

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Speaking at a press briefing marking his one-month tenure as Commissioner of Police in the state, Agbonika also highlighted the rescue of seven kidnap victims. He further disclosed that 12 suspected kidnappers had confessed to adopting a new method of operation.

“The new mode adopted by kidnappers is to use their victims as shields when they are being pursued by operatives. Our operations are not easy. Whenever kidnappers take hostages and we go after them, we find it difficult to fire at them because they use their hostages as human shields, and they are at liberty to fire at us,” Agbonika explained. “We are working on introducing other technological assistance in tracking these kidnappers and making it easier to apprehend them without harming the victims. We want to be proactive to ensure that kidnapping does not take place.”

The Edo CP also committed to continuing engagement with local communities, conducting bush-combing operations across area commands and divisions, intelligence-led raids on flashpoints, and increasing high-visibility policing to curb criminal activity.

Additionally, Agbonika mentioned that the police were collaborating with the state government to reform the vigilante groups, ensuring that they operate only within their communities and improve the security of the forests.

EFCC Arraigns Music Promoter, His Company for Alleged $397,106 Forex Fraud, Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, brought music promoter Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, known as Eezee Tee, to court for alleged foreign exchange fraud and money laundering, alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited.

ThankGod, who is facing an amended seven-count charge, is accused of engaging in foreign exchange malpractice and laundering a total of $397,106 (Three Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Six U.S. Dollars).