Troops of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operating under the 2 Division Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, have neutralised a suspected kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims, and arrested another suspect during coordinated security operations in Edo State.
The operations were carried out on March 3, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks and strengthen security across the state.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the first operation was conducted in Warake Forest in Auchi during a night patrol under “Operation IGBO DANU 1”.
According to the statement, troops working alongside personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes responded to gunshots heard deep inside the forest.
During the operation, the security team engaged suspected kidnappers in a confrontation. One of the criminals, described as a notorious kidnapper who had allegedly been terrorising residents of Auchi and nearby communities, was neutralised. Other members of the gang reportedly fled into the forest after the troops overpowered them.
Four abducted victims — Stella Abbas, 29; Tina Ododa, 19; Razak Rashid, 27; and Mutanibi Kalifa, 16 — were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families.
Items recovered from the neutralised suspect included ₦650,000 in cash, mobile phones, a power bank, and footwear.
In a separate operation the same day, troops working with the Edo State Security Corps carried out a raid on a building in Ujemen community in Esan West Local Government Area believed to be a hideout for kidnappers.
During the raid, a 39-year-old suspect identified as Omogbegha Solomon was arrested. Security operatives also discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of several individuals inside an abandoned room within the compound, which was destroyed at the scene.
The suspect has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the operation, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and bravery. He urged them to sustain the ongoing offensive against criminal elements across the state in line with the operational directives of the General Officer Commanding of the 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.
Balogun also reassured residents of Edo State of the Brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property while intensifying efforts to eliminate kidnappers and other criminal elements from the state.
