As part of efforts to ensure peaceful local government elections in the state, the Edo State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement from 12 midnight on Friday to 3 pm on Saturday.

A statement issued on Friday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, read: “The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that there will be restriction of movement throughout Edo State from 12:00 midnight Friday to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, 11th July, 2026, to ensure the peaceful, orderly, and secure conduct of the Local Government Council Elections.”

According to the statement, the restriction forms part of the comprehensive security measures put in place by the command in collaboration with other security agencies to guarantee a peaceful electoral process, protect voters, electoral officials and sensitive materials, and prevent any breakdown of law and order.

“Consequently, all vehicular and human movement within the state is prohibited during the stated period, except for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, accredited election observers, duly accredited media personnel, security agencies, emergency and other essential service providers on election duty,” it further stated.

The statement also advised members of the public to comply fully with the directive, noting that security operatives had been strategically deployed across the state’s 18 local government areas to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order.

It warned that any person or group found violating the restriction or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, reassured residents of Edo State that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to safeguard the election.

He urged residents to come out peacefully to exercise their civic responsibility in line with the guidelines issued by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, adding that the “command remains committed to ensuring a free, fair, peaceful, and credible electoral process.”

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has successfully rescued four persons abducted during a kidnapping attack at the Yellow House area of Mpape, Abuja.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The PPRO explained that the command received a distress call on July 8, reporting that suspected kidnappers had invaded Yellow House Area in Mpape area of the FCT at about 10:40 pm and kidnapped four residents.

She said upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi immediately deployed operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, personnel of Katampe and Mpape Police Divisions, and 24 Police Mobile Force Squadron to the scene.

“Upon their arrival, preliminary findings revealed that the assailants had shot two victims before fleeing the scene.

“It was also discovered that the assailants had taken four other victims hostage from a nearby area whom they forcefully marched through Jikoko Hills towards Ushafa Forest.

“The two injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Sadly, one of the victims, identified only as Mr Babangida, later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by medical personnel, while the second victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, is currently responding positively to treatment”, she said.

According to the PPRO, the operatives maintained relentless pursuit of the kidnappers from the night of the incident till Friday, 10th July, 2026, when they located the kidnappers at approximately 12:05 AM around Jikoko Hills heading towards Ushafa Forests with the hostages.

She said that after sighting the advancing operatives, the kidnappers opened fire and engaged the Police team in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

“Demonstrating superior tactical capability, the operatives overwhelmed the suspects, forcing them to abandon the hostages and flee deeper into the surrounding hills and forest in a desperate attempt to evade arrest.

“All four kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed, safely evacuated from the forest, and reunited with their families. While the responding Police teams remain hot on the trail of the fleeing kidnappers”, she added.