Troops of 4 Brigade under 2 Division Nigerian Army have neutralised a notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims and arrested a suspected criminal during separate security operations in Edo State.
The operations, conducted under Operation IGBO DANU 1, were carried out in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, personnel of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, troops responded to gunshots during a night patrol on 3 March 2026 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area.
The troops swiftly pursued the criminals with minimal use of firearms, leading to the neutralisation of a notorious kidnapper who had been terrorising Auchi and surrounding communities. The remaining members of the gang fled into the forest after encountering superior firepower from the troops.
During the operation, four kidnapped victims—Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27) and Mutanibi Kalifa (16)—were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families.
Items recovered from the neutralised suspect include cash amounting to ₦650,000, footwear, a power bank and mobile phones.
In a separate operation the same day, troops in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps raided a suspected kidnappers’ 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 several individuals in an abandoned room within the compound. The shrine was destroyed on the spot.
The suspect has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division for further investigation.
Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain the offensive against criminal elements in line with the directive of the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.
He reassured residents of Edo State of the Nigerian Army’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
