Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Edo State Security Corps, have raided kidnappers’ hideouts in Edo North Senatorial District, arresting 13 suspects and recovering weapons and illicit items.
During the exercise, eight suspected kidnappers and drug peddlers were arrested. They were identified as Jamilu Mohammad (25), Kasim Abu (33), Braimoh Affeez (31), Sulaiman Hamisu (36), Lawan Umaru (25), Bawa Auwal (24), Musa Umaru (40) and Amodu Attai (50).
Items recovered from the suspects included one English-made pump-action gun, four live cartridges and one locally fabricated pistol. Other exhibits seized were a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, weighing scales, and quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice and other illicit drugs. A total of ₦87,550 in cash was also recovered.
In a related operation, troops of 4 Brigade, working with the Edo State Police Command, combed the Aviele Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area. Five additional suspected kidnappers—Isiaka Abubakar (37), Mohammad Abubakar (25), Yusuf Abubakar (24), Mohammed Somu (20) and Isiaka Ibrahim (30)—were arrested. Recovered items included two motorcycles, two Android phones and a power bank.
All suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, who led the operations, commended the swift inter-agency collaboration and warned that Edo State would remain hostile to terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements. He reaffirmed the brigade’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
Brigadier General Balogun also expressed appreciation to the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, for his strategic guidance and support.
