The Edo State Police Command has accused some locals, including farmers, in communities and villages around the highways in Edo State of aiding crimes on the road.
Speaking during a radio programme on crime reduction in the state, SP. Kotongs Bello, the spokesman of Edo State Police Command, alleged that they are aiding crimes by gathering and sharing intelligence with the criminal gangs in their locality.
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He said the development had made it possible for criminal gangs operating on some roads across the state to understand the movements and deployment of security agents and hardware to create escape routes and strike at soft targets.
“The people are trying, but many places where these kidnapping is thriving is because the kidnappers have information.
“We have farmers in those places and also have communities in those places,” he said.
According to him, the kidnappers are succeeding because people are giving them information.
“So, criminals will always plan. They have their informants in town. They give information to their gangs within to know when police are not there and come to the road.
He, however, noted that the Benin-Auchi highway is safe for road users and free from criminal activities, including armed robbery and kidnappers.
He said the police have rescued over 50 kidnapped persons on the highway and also arrested more than 30 kidnappers.
