Troops of 4 Brigade under 2 Division Nigerian Army in collaboration with Edo State Security Corps have neutralised a notorious kidnapper, rescued four kidnapped victims in Warake Forest.
The troops also arrested a suspected kidnapper in separate operations in Edo State.
Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu in a statement issued Wednesday said the troops during Operation Igbo Danu 1 working alongside personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes, carried out a night operation on 3rd March, 2026 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area.
He noted that the troops responded to gunshots heard in the forest during a night patrol with aggressive pursuit and minimum use of firearms.
Anyawu added: “The gallant troops neutralised a notorious kidnapper that has been terrorising Auchi and environs during the encounter.
“The superior firepower of troops forced the remaining criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the bush.
“Four victims including Stella Abbas (Age 29), Tina Ododa (Age 19), Razak Rashid (Age 27) and Mutanibi Kalifa (Age 16), were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families.”
Anyawu said items recovered from the neutralised kidnapper include N650,000 cash, footwear, power bank and mobile phones.
In a separate operation on 3 March 2026, troops in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, raided a house in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area suspected to be a kidnapper’s hideout.
Anyawu stressed that a 39-year-old suspect, Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested during the raid. He said during the operation, troops discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals in an abandoned room within the compound.
He stated that the shrine was destroyed in-situ, and the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Ekpoma Division for further investigation.