Nigerian Army kills notorious kidnapper, rescues four in Edo forest

Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, working with the Edo State Security Corps, have killed a notorious kidnapper and rescued four kidnapped victims from Warake Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area.

They also arrested another suspected kidnapper in a separate operation.

According to Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the Brigade, the operation, codenamed IGBO DANU 1, was conducted on the night of 3 March 2026 alongside personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes.

Troops responded to gunshots in the forest, pursued the criminals with minimal use of firearms, and neutralised the kidnapper terrorising Auchi and its environs. Four victims — Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27), and Mutanibi Kalifa (16) — were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families. Items recovered included ₦650,000 in cash, footwear, a power bank, and mobile phones.

In a separate operation in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area, troops raided a suspected kidnapper hideout, arresting 39-year-old Omogbegha Solomon. During the raid, they discovered and destroyed a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals. 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 skill and urged continued operations against criminal elements.

He reassured Edo State residents of the Brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property, in line with directives from Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding 2 Division.