The Edo State Government has stepped up its crackdown on illicit drugs, arresting seven suspects, including a breastfeeding mother, during coordinated operations across Uromi, Ubiaja, and Auchi in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts.
The suspects, four women and three men, were paraded in Benin City by the Edo State Taskforce. Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Hon. Festus Ebea, said the arrests were the result of credible intelligence and targeted raids on identified drug hotspots.
He disclosed that officers recovered varying quantities of banned substances from the suspects, describing the items as “clear evidence” of their involvement in the distribution and sale of hard drugs.
According to Ebea, the operation was executed on November 26, 2025, by the state’s Taskforce charged with maintaining a crime-free environment.
“Our youths are becoming increasingly vulnerable to drug abuse, which fuels deviant behaviour and criminality. These raids in Esan North-East, Esan South-East and Etsako West led to the arrest of seven individuals, among them a breastfeeding mother,” he said.
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He added that the recovered exhibits linked the suspects directly to the illicit drug trade, which has been driving a surge in antisocial behaviour across communities.
The Commissioner said the state remains resolute in dismantling drug networks and safeguarding young people from the destructive pull of narcotics. He noted that the suspects will be profiled and transferred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
“This is not a one-off. The Edo State Government will continue to track down drug dealers and their collaborators. We will not relent until every community is safe and secure,” Ebea stated.
He reiterated Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to making Edo a drug-free state, stressing that narcotics destroy lives and threaten public safety. “This Taskforce will take the fight to the doorstep of both sellers and consumers,” he added.
Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Michael Anetor, reaffirmed the team’s resolve to eliminate drug-related crime in all parts of the state. He commended the Commissioner for his consistent support and warned others involved in illicit drug activities to desist before the law catches up with them.
The Edo State Government emphasized that the anti-drug campaign will continue relentlessly until communities across the state are free from the scourge of illicit substances.
