Troops Rescue Four Kidnap Victims, Neutralise Suspect in Edo Operations

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, operating in conjunction with the Edo State Security Corps, have killed a suspected notorious kidnapper and rescued four abducted victims during two separate operations in the state.

The operations were conducted under the auspices of Operation IGBO DANU 1 in the Warake Forest area of Auchi, as well as in Ujemen, located in Esan West Local Government Area.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu.

According to the statement, the first operation took place on Tuesday night, following reports of gunfire in the Warake Forest.

“Troops during Operation IGBO DANU 1 working alongside personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes carried out a night operation on March 3, 2026, in Warake Forest,” the statement read.

It explained that the troops were on patrol when they heard gunshots and immediately launched an aggressive pursuit, employing minimal force.

“The gallant troops neutralised a notorious kidnapper that has been terrorising Auchi and its environs during the encounter. The superior firepower of the troops forced the remaining criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the bush,” the statement added.

The rescued victims were identified as Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27), and Mutanibi Kalifa (16). All four were said to be unharmed and have since been reunited with their families.

Items recovered from the neutralised suspect include the sum of N650,000, footwear, a power bank, and several mobile phones.

In a related development, troops also raided a suspected kidnapper’s hideout in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area, on the same day.

During that operation, a 39-year-old suspect, Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested. Security operatives also discovered a shrine inside an abandoned room within the compound, containing charms and photographs of various individuals. The shrine was destroyed on the spot.

The suspect has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, praised the troops for their professionalism and urged them to maintain the momentum in the fight against crime in the state.

He reiterated the brigade’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in line with the directives of the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.