Suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for the abduction of a medical doctor in Auchi, Edo State, and the killing of his younger brother have been arrested following a dramatic turn of events at the hospital where the doctor is employed.
The suspects were reportedly apprehended after bringing their sick child to the same hospital for treatment. While attending to his official duties, the abducted doctor, Dr. Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, allegedly encountered the suspects in a hospital ward and immediately recognised them as members of the gang that abducted him weeks earlier. He promptly alerted hospital management, who in turn notified security operatives, leading to the arrest of the suspects within the hospital premises.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests were the result of sustained investigations into the abduction of Dr. Babatunde.
She explained that the first major breakthrough in the case was recorded on February 3, when operatives of the Auchi Division, working alongside local hunters and vigilante groups, conducted a bush-combing operation in Warake Forest. During the operation, one suspect, Saminu Kawujie, was intercepted.
According to police findings, a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two knives, two mobile phones, one UBA ATM card, and ₦20,250 in cash. An identification parade was later conducted at the police station, where the suspect was identified as one of those involved in Dr. Babatunde’s abduction.
Providing further details on the latest arrests, ASP Ikoedem disclosed that on February 8, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer, acting on credible intelligence linked to the same case, deployed operatives to the Specialist Hospital in Auchi.
“At the hospital premises, two suspects identified as Idris Abubakar (male) and Sani Abubakar (male) were apprehended. Both suspects were identified as members of the gang that abducted Dr. Babatunde on January 2, 2026. Idris Abubakar was specifically identified as the individual who received the ransom money paid for the doctor’s release,” she said.
The police spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing to track down and arrest other members of the gang. She assured residents of Edo State that all those responsible for the crime would be brought to justice.
