The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old suspect, Ehis Jonah, in connection with the January 2023 train station attack and k!dnapping in Igueben, Edo Central Senatorial District.
The attack, which took place on January 7, 2023, involved g*nmen abducting 20 passengers and injuring several others. Jonah, along with other suspects linked to various crimes, was presented at the police headquarters in Benin City on Friday, September 6, 2024, by police spokesman SP Moses Yamu.
Yamu explained that Jonah was arrested on September 1, 2024, after police surveillance officers stopped a motorcycle carrying him and two others.
“At around 1:00 PM on September 1, 2024, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit, patrolling Obedu Road in Uromi, intercepted three individuals—Christopher Lucky, 24, Kelvin Eboigbe, 24, and Ehis Jonah, 26—riding a Qlink motorcycle with registration number BEN 489 VN,” Yamu stated.
During the interrogation, a Tecno Spark 9 phone in their possession rang, and the caller, who identified himself as Ayuba Mohammed, revealed that the phone belonged to Gazali Hassan, who had gone missing with his motorcycle on August 31, 2024.
“Following this revelation, an investigation was launched, which uncovered that the suspects had m*rdered Gazali Hassan and stolen his motorcycle.
“Officers were dispatched to the crime scene along the Idumoza Pipeline in Uromi, Edo State, where they recovered Hassan’s body and transported it to Camillus Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy. The hammer and knife used in the m*rder were also recovered as evidence.
“During interrogation, Ehis Jonah, identified as the ringleader, confessed that he had met Sunday Amah, Innocent Julius, and Daniel John in Benin prison while serving time for various kidnapping offenses. After their release, they formed a new criminal syndicate.
“Further investigations led to the arrest of seven additional suspects: Innocent Julius, 36; Sunday Amah, 37; Molu Behere, 32; Ojeleje Amenbhagbe, 25; Mohammed Yahaya, 37; Daniel John, 34; Okihan Lucky, 40; and Pastor Osagie Michael, 37. This group has been linked to multiple crimes in the Edo Central Senatorial District, including the robbery at Osigholo Filling Station in Igueben and the deadly attack and kidnapping at the Igueben train station. They confessed to receiving a ransom of ₦15 million from the train station k!dnapping, among other serious offenses.
“Efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining syndicate members and recover their weapons.”
In an interview with journalists, Jonah admitted that he was hired to provide logistics for the group using his motorcycle, earning ₦2 million as his share of the crime.
“I’m a motorcycle rider, and Amenbhagbe Ojeleje asked me to take him and others to the train station for the kidnapping,” Jonah explained. “He promised to pay me, and after the operation, he gave me ₦2 million, which he said was my share of the proceeds.”