By USMAN ALIYU

Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have arrested 58 suspected illegal miners and rescued two kidnapped sisters in separate operations in Etsako West and Akoko-Edo local government areas of Edo.

The spokesperson of the brigade, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Benin on Monday.

Anyanwu said that the 58 suspects were arrested at about 1;00 p.m., on Saturday during a patrol by troops of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (NASEME), acting on credible intelligence.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended at an illegal gold mining site in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

He said that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and related criminal activities.

“The suspects have been handed over to the Okpella Police Division for further investigation and necessary action,” he said.

He added that the operation was carried out without resistance.

He also said that in a related development, troops of the brigade, rescued two kidnapped sisters in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, after a coordinated pursuit forced their abductors to flee.

According to him, the victims, identified as Odio Momoh, 17, and Sonia Momoh, 23, were reportedly abducted on March 27 from a residence near the NASEME facility in Auchi.

Anyanwu said that troops swiftly responded to a distress call and launched a joint operation with personnel of NASEME, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Police and local vigilantes.

“On noticing that they were almost encircled, the criminals abandoned the victims and fled,” he said.

He added that the victims were rescued at about 8;30 p.m., and had since been reunited with their families.

He also said that security agencies had sustained operations to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle criminal networks operating in the area.

He further said that the military had stepped up efforts to secure communities across the state. (NAN)