By Danjuma Amodu | March 5, 2026
The Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, has killed a notorious kidnapper and rescued four kidnapped victims from Warake Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area.
A statement by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations of the Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, said 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 March 3, 2026 in the area
He stated that, “The troops responded to gunshots heard in the forest during a night patrol with aggressive pursuit and minimum use of firearms. 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.
The rescued victims, Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27), and Mutanibi Kalifa (16), were 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 arrested 39-year-old Omogbegha Solomon, a suspected kidnapper. A shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals was destroyed during the raid.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped from different locations in Edo State and held in the forest. They are receiving support and counselling from authorities and their families.
Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun commended the troops for their skill and urged continued operations against criminal elements, reassuring Edo State residents of the Brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property
