Troops neutralise suspected kidnapper, rescue four victims in Edo

By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY

Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, said a notorious kidnapper has been killed and rescued four people who were kidnapped in Warake Forest in the Etsako West local government area.

They also arrested a suspected kidnapper in separate operations in Edo State.

A statement by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations of the Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, said 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 the area.

He said, “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 that has 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. Four victims, including Stella Abbas (age 29), Tina Ododa (age 19), Razak Rashid (age 27) and Mutanibi Kalifa (age 16), were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families. Items recovered from the neutralised kidnapper are cash amounting to Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦650,000) only, footwear, a power bank and mobile phones.”

He said in a separate operation troops, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, raided a house in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area, suspected to be a kidnapper’s hideout.

The statement said a 39-year-old suspect, Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested during the raid. “During the operation, troops discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals in an abandoned room within the compound. The shrine was destroyed in situ, and the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Ekpoma Division for further investigation.

“The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their dexterity and urged them to sustain the aggressive onslaught against all the criminal elements in line with directives from the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife. He further reassured the residents of Edo State of the Brigade’s commitment towards the protection of lives and property in the state.”

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