Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims and arrested a suspected criminal during coordinated operations in Edo State under Operation IGBO DANU 1.
The troops, drawn from the 4 Brigade under the 2 Division and working in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, conducted a night operation on March 3, 2026, in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area. Personnel of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes also supported the mission.
According to a statement by Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, the troops responded to gunshots heard during a night patrol in the forest and engaged the criminals in a confrontation marked by what he described as minimum use of firearms.
During the encounter, a notorious kidnapper said to have been terrorising Auchi and surrounding communities was neutralised, while other members of the gang fled into the bush under sustained pressure from the troops. The fleeing suspects reportedly abandoned their captives in the process.
The rescued victims—Stella Abbas, 29; Tina Ododa, 19; Razak Rashid, 27; and Mutanibi Kalifa, 16—were freed unhurt and later reunited with their families.
Items recovered from the scene included N650,000 in cash, footwear, a power bank and mobile phones.
In a separate operation on 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, Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested during the raid. Troops reportedly discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals in an abandoned room within the compound. The shrine was destroyed at the scene, while the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division, for further investigation.
The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain ongoing operations against criminal elements in line with directives from the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.
He also reassured residents of Edo State of the Brigade’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
