Army Kills Notorious Kidnapper, Rescues Four Hostages in Edo

Nigerian military troops

Army Kills Notorious Kidnapper, Rescues Four Hostages in Edo

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade under 2 Division, working alongside the Edo State Security Corps, have successfully neutralised a notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims, and arrested another suspect during coordinated security operations in Edo State. The operations were conducted on March 3, 2026, under Operation IGBO DANU 1, targeting criminal hideouts in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area, and Ujemen in Esan West Local Government Area.

According to Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 4 Brigade, the troops acted after receiving reports of gunshots in Warake Forest. During the night operation, soldiers, supported by personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes, confronted the gang. The encounter resulted in the death of a notorious kidnapper who had been terrorising the Auchi area, while other criminals abandoned their captives and fled into the forest.

Four victims — Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27), and Mutanibi Kalifa (16) — were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families. The troops also recovered several items from the scene, including ₦650,000 in cash, mobile phones, a power bank, and footwear believed to belong to the criminal gang.

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

Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, Commander of 4 Brigade, commended the troops for their bravery and professionalism, noting that these operations align with directives from the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, to maintain peace and security across Edo State.

The operations reflect an intensified offensive against kidnapping and criminal syndicates, particularly in forested regions of the state that have frequently harboured criminals. Residents and community leaders have welcomed the success, urging sustained action to dismantle criminal networks and protect lives and property.