Nigerian Army Neutralizes Notorious Kidnapper, Rescues Four Victims and Arrests Suspect in Edo State

Troops of 4 Brigade under 2 Division Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, have neutralized a notorious kidnapper, rescued four kidnapped victims, and arrested a suspected kidnapper in separate operations conducted in Edo State on March 3, 2026.

Operation Igbo Danu 1

During Operation Igbo Danu 1, troops working alongside personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes carried out a night patrol and operation in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area. Responding to gunshots heard in the forest, the troops engaged in aggressive pursuit with minimum use of firearms. In the encounter, the troops neutralised a notorious kidnapper responsible for terrorising Auchi and surrounding communities.

The superior firepower forced the remaining criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the bush. Four victims – Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27), and Mutanibi Kalifa (16) – were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families. Items recovered from the neutralized kidnapper included ₦650,000 in cash, footwear, a power bank, and mobile phones.

Ujemen Raid and Shrine Destruction

In a separate raid on March 3, troops and Edo State Security Corps personnel stormed a suspected kidnapper’s hideout in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area. A 39-year-old suspect, Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested. Inside an abandoned room within the compound, troops discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals. The shrine was destroyed and the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Ekpoma Division for further investigation.

Commander 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their dexterity and professionalism. He urged them to sustain the aggressive onslaught against criminal elements in line with directives from the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.

The operations reflect ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army and local security partners to degrade kidnap-for-ransom syndicates operating in forests and rural areas of Edo State. Kidnapping remains a significant security challenge in the South-South region, with criminal gangs targeting commuters and residents.