The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its ongoing special clearance operation across forests and suspected criminal hideouts in Edo State as part of efforts to deny kidnappers and other violent criminals safe havens.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, AIG Monday Agbonika said the operation was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on July 22, 2026, for a two-week period covering Edo and Delta states.

The AIG explained that the operation is preventive rather than reactive, noting that the objective is to clear vulnerable forest corridors and remote communities before criminal elements can regroup and launch attacks.

According to him, Edo State has witnessed significant improvement in its security situation in recent weeks, adding that the police are determined to sustain the gains by taking the fight directly to criminal hideouts.

He said the operation has been strengthened with the deployment of tactical assets, including gun trucks, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), and specially trained personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), who have been carrying out systematic searches of forests, camps, riverbanks and other difficult terrains across the state.

The police disclosed that the exercise commenced on July 23 with operations in Ogua Community Forest, Iguosagie Community Forest and Pipeline Corridor, Agava Community Forest and the Ovia River Bridge axis.

On July 24, security operatives extended the operation to Ugbogui Community Forest, Ikoha Community Forest, and the Alakor Forest and River axis.

The exercise continued on July 25 at Ogbemudia Farm and Pipeline Corridor as well as Ugbokwu Sunny Camp Community along the Benin-Lagos Expressway.

On July 26, personnel moved to Aigbengbe Camp Community beside Z & Y Quarry on the Ohosu axis of the Benin-Lagos Expressway, while operations on July 27 covered Iguo Camp Community Forest along the same expressway.

The latest phase of the operation, carried out on July 28, focused on Oneghero Community Forest off the Benin-Akure Road.

The AIG said officers would maintain a strong presence in the affected areas while expanding the exercise to other identified locations until all suspected criminal enclaves within the operational area are searched and cleared.

He assured residents that there was no cause for alarm over the movement of gun trucks and tactical teams across parts of the state, stressing that the deployment was part of a planned operation aimed at improving public safety.

The police chief warned criminal elements that forests would no longer serve as safe havens, adding that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to dominate the affected areas until all criminal hideouts are dismantled.

He also appealed to residents, particularly those living in communities bordering forest areas, to support security agencies with timely and credible information, describing public intelligence as a critical component of the operation's success.

The AIG commended officers participating in the exercise for their resilience and professionalism despite the difficult terrain and weather conditions, while expressing appreciation to the people of Edo State for their cooperation.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensuring the safety of lives and property, noting that the clearance operation would continue with renewed vigour until its objectives are fully achieved.