March 04, (THEWILL) — Troops of the 4 Brigade, under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, have neutralised a notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims and arrested another suspect in separate operations across Edo State under Operation IGBO DANU 1.
A statement signed on Wednesday by Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City, stated that the operations, conducted in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, personnel of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and local vigilantes, were carried out on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Auchi and Esan West Local Government Areas.
During a night patrol in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area, troops responded to gunshots heard deep inside the forest. Acting swiftly with aggressive pursuit and minimal use of firearms, the soldiers engaged the criminals in a firefight.
In the encounter, a notorious kidnapper, said to have terrorised Auchi and its environs, was neutralised. The superior firepower of the troops forced other members of the gang to abandon their captives and flee into the bush.
Four kidnapped victims, including Stella Abbas, 29; Tina Ododa, 19; Razak Rashid, 27; and Mutanibi Kalifa, 16, were rescued unhurt and subsequently reunited with their families.
Items recovered from the neutralised suspect include ₦650,000 in cash, mobile phones, a power bank and footwear.
In a separate operation the same day, troops, in conjunction with the Edo State Security Corps, raided a suspected kidnapper’s hideout in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area.
A 39-year-old suspect, identified as Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested during the raid. Troops also discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals in an abandoned room within the compound. The shrine was destroyed on the spot, while the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division, for further investigation.
The Commander, 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and bravery, urging them to sustain the ongoing offensive against criminal elements in line with directives from the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.
He reassured residents of Edo State of the Brigade’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property and maintaining security across the state.
The operations form part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to curb kidnapping and violent crimes in the region.
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