Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade under 2 Division, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, have neutralised a suspected notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims and arrested another suspect during separate operations in Edo State.

The operations were carried out under Operation IGBO DANU 1 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area, and Ujemen in Esan West Local Government Area.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu.

According to the statement, the troops conducted a night operation on Tuesday, following reports of gunshots in Warake Forest.

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The statement read, “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, 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 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.”

The Army said four kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation and later reunited with their families.

The statement added, “Four victims including Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27) and Mutanibi Kalifa (16), were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families.

“Items recovered from the neutralised kidnapper are cash amount of Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N650,000) only, footwear, power bank and mobile phones.”

The Army further revealed that troops carried out another operation the same day in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area, where a suspected kidnapper was arrested.

“In a separate operation on March 3 2026, 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.

“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 statement added.

The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to intensify operations against criminal elements in the state.

“The Commander 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,” the statement added.

Balogun also reassured residents of the brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Edo State. (Punch)

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