Edo Command Ramps Up Joint Offensive Against Criminal Hideouts in Okpella Axis

In a display of inter-agency cooperation, the Edo State Police Command has spearheaded an intensified joint clearance operation across the Imiakebu and Okpella axes of Edo State. The mission, which integrates the prowess of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), is a calculated move to sanitize the volatile border region shared with Kogi State.

Commencing in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026, the five-day offensive has relied on a hybrid approach of ground maneuvers and aerial reconnaissance to root out criminal elements that have allegedly plagued the corridor. According to reports from the field, the operation has maintained steady momentum, ensuring that the pressure remains high on suspected criminal enclaves throughout the designated general area.

As of Wednesday, August 26, the operation escalated as the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, took a hands-on approach by joining field officers at the Auchi Area Command. Following an address to the troops, the Commissioner took to the skies as part of the aerial surveillance component, while ground teams pushed forward to secure key flanks and entry points into the state.