TDTroops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in a joint operation with personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Edo State Security Corps, have successfully raided kidnappers’ hideouts across Edo North Senatorial District.
The clearance operation, codenamed “Operation IGBO DANU 1”, was carried out in Osara Community (Etsako West LGA), as well as Auchi and Okpella Communities.
Arrests and Recoveries
During the operation, eight suspected kidnappers and illicit drug peddlers were apprehended.
The suspects include:
- Jamilu Mohammad (25)
- Kasim Abu (33)
- Braimoh Affeez (31)
- Sulaiman Hamisu (36)
- Lawan Umaru (25)
- Bawa Auwal (24)
- Musa Umaru (40)
- Amodu Attai (50)
Weapons recovered:
- One English Auto Pump-action gun
- Four live cartridges
- One locally made pistol
Other items seized:
- Point-of-Sale (POS) machine
- Two cutlasses
- Nikon digital camera
- Two Android phones
- Metal hook
- Five bottles of codeine syrup
- Two Indian hemp weighing scales
- Quantities of cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud, and colos
- Cash sum of ₦87,550
All suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.
Aviele Forest Raid
In a related development, troops of 4 Brigade, working alongside the Edo State Police Command, combed the Aviele Forest in Etsako West LGA to flush out suspected terrorists and kidnappers.
Five suspects were arrested:
- Isiaka Abubakar (37)
- Mohammad Abubakar (25)
- Yusuf Abubakar (24)
- Mohammed Somu (20)
- Isiaka Ibrahim (30)
Items recovered:
- Two motorcycles
- Two Android phones
- One power bank
These suspects and items were also handed over to the police for ongoing investigations.
Military Leadership’s Statement
The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, who led the operations, commended the swift collaboration among the security agencies.
He declared that Edo State will be made untenable for terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal elements.
Balogun reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state.
He expressed appreciation to the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, for his strategic guidance and support.
The operation was formally announced by Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army.
Operation IGBO DANU 1 marks a significant success in the fight against kidnapping and terrorism in Edo North.
With multiple arrests, recovery of weapons, and seizure of illicit substances, the Nigerian Army and collaborating agencies have sent a strong message that criminal activities will not be tolerated in Edo State.
