Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, operating under 2 Division as part of Operation WABAIZIGAN, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims following a swift response to a kidnap incident along the Lagos–Benin Expressway in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the operation highlighted the Army’s commitment to protecting lives and denying criminal elements freedom of action within its area of responsibility.
According to the statement, the rescue mission commenced at about 9:30 p.m. on July 30, 2026, after troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence about the abduction. The troops immediately pursued the kidnappers along their escape route, applying sustained pressure that forced the criminals to abandon 11 abducted victims before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
The statement added that troops launched a follow-up clearance operation on July 31, during which they combed the forest and successfully rescued the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to 14.
Following preliminary debriefing and medical assessment, all the rescued victims were confirmed to be in stable condition and were reunited with their families or allowed to continue their journeys.
The Army said efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers, stressing that the successful operation reflects its intelligence-driven approach and operational readiness in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies.
The Nigerian Army also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, noting that public cooperation remains critical to sustaining operational successes and improving security across Edo State.
Meanwhile, the Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience, courage, and proactive response during the operation. He reassured residents of Edo State and commuters along the Lagos–Benin Expressway of the Brigade’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, while affirming that troops would continue aggressive operations to deny criminal elements safe havens and ensure a secure environment for law-abiding citizens.
