Army, Police, others apprehend 8 suspected kidnappers with illicit drugs, weapons in Edo

No fewer than eight suspected kidnappers and illicit drug peddlers were arrested by troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, in Edo State.

The troops, in collaboration with operatives of the Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the State Security Service (ESSC), arrested the suspects during an operation codenamed IGBO DANU 1.

Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the Brigade, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City.

Captain Anyanwu said the operation was conducted on February 4, 2026, to neutralise and flush out terrorists and kidnappers and to rescue victims in Osara Community in Etsako West Local Government Area, as well as Auchi and Okpella Communities, all in Edo North Senatorial District.

He gave the names of the suspects as Jamilu Mohammad, Kasim Abu, Braimoh Affeez, Sulaiman Hamisu, Lawan Umaru, Bawa Auwal, Musa Umaru, and Amodu Attai.

He listed items recovered from the suspects to include one English auto pump-action gun, four live cartridges, and one locally made pistol.

Other items recovered include a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, two Indian hemp weighing scales, and quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud, and colos.

He added that the sum of N87,550 was also recovered from the suspects.

The Brigade’s spokesperson said the suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, who led the operation, commended the swift response and collaboration among the security agencies.

Balogun, however, warned that Edo State would be untenable for terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal elements to carry out their nefarious activities.

He also reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to safeguarding lives and properties in the state, while expressing appreciation to the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, for his strategic guidance and support.