Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have rescued a kidnapped farmer and neutralised one of his abductors during a coordinated operation in Edo State.
The operation, conducted under Operation KO SALO, followed credible intelligence on the abduction of 50-year-old Lucky Egbiki, who was kidnapped at his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the security forces carried out the rescue operation at about 6pm on August 6, 2026.
The troops, working with police personnel, reportedly exploited ransom negotiations to lure the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo in Esan South East LGA.
As the criminal gang arrived to collect the ransom, the security forces engaged them, killing one of the kidnappers in the ensuing encounter.
The remaining members of the gang reportedly abandoned the victim and fled into the surrounding forest, with some believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The troops subsequently rescued Egbiki unhurt and recovered the ₦1.5 million ransom intended for the kidnappers.
The victim was subjected to preliminary debriefing and medical assessment before being reunited with his family. He was confirmed to be in stable condition.
In a follow-up clearance operation conducted on August 7 and 8, troops combed the surrounding forest in an effort to track the fleeing kidnappers, but made no further contact with the criminal elements.
The Army said the operation demonstrated the troops’ operational readiness and intelligence-driven approach, while underscoring the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes.
It urged residents of Edo State to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.
Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their proactiveness, courage and professionalism during the operation.
Balogun assured residents that the Brigade would sustain pressure on kidnappers and other criminal groups operating within its area of responsibility.
He added that troops would continue with aggressive, intelligence-led operations aimed at denying criminals safe havens, protecting lives and property, and creating a secure environment for farming and other legitimate economic activities across the state.
