Troops Neutralise Notorious Kidnapper, Rescue Four Victims in Edo Operations
Troops of 4 Brigade under 2 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, have neutralised a suspected notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims and arrested another suspect during separate operations in Edo State.
The breakthrough occurred during Operation IGBO DANU 1, when troops, alongside personnel of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes, conducted a night patrol on 3 March 2026 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area. Acting on gunshots heard in the area, soldiers launched a swift pursuit and engaged the criminals.
During the encounter, a suspected kidnap kingpin said to have been terrorising Auchi and surrounding communities was neutralised, while other members of the gang fled, abandoning their captives. Four victims — Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27) and Mutanibi Kalifa (16) — were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families. Troops recovered N650,000 in cash, mobile phones, a power bank and other personal items from the scene.
In a separate operation the same day, troops and operatives of the Edo State Security Corps raided a suspected kidnap hideout in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area, arresting a 39-year-old suspect identified as Omogbegha Solomon. A shrine containing charms and photographs was discovered and destroyed, while the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division, for further investigation.
Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining operations against criminal elements across the state.
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