Army, ESSC neutralize notorious kidnapper, rescue 4 victims in Edo

Operatives of 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin City, Edo State, have killed a suspected notorious kidnapper terrorising Auchi and environs.

DAILY POST reports that the 4 Brigade operatives under 2 Division Nigerian Army, during operation IGBO DANU 1, also rescued four kidnapped victims unhurt.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday March, 4, 2026.

Anyanwu said the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).

He said the notorious kidnapper was neutralised and the four victims rescued in Warrake forest in Owan East Local Government Area of the State.

According to him, 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 3 March 2026 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area.

“The troops responded to gunshots heard in the forest during a night patrol with aggressive pursuit and minimum use of firearms.

“The gallant troops neutralised a notorious kidnapper who had been terrorising Auchi and environs during the encounter.

“The superior firepower of troops forced the remaining criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the bush”, he said.

He gave the names of the rescued victims as Stella Abbas, Tina Ododa, Razak Rashid, and Mutanibi Kalifa.

He said the victims who were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families were between the ages of 29, 27, 19 and 16.

Anyanwu listed items recovered from the neutralised kidnapper to include N650,000 cash, footwear, a power bank and mobile phones.

Army, ESSC neutralize notorious kidnapper, rescue 4 victims in Edo