Troops Arrest 13 Suspected Kidnappers, Drug Peddlers in Edo Clearance Operations
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, working alongside other security agencies, have arrested 13 suspected kidnappers and drug peddlers during coordinated clearance operations in Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State.
The operations, carried out on February 4, 2026, were conducted in Osara Community, Etsako West Local Government Area, as well as Auchi and Okpella communities, under a special mission codenamed Operation IGBO DANU 1.
The operation involved personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Edo State Police Command, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Edo State Security Corps, with the aim of flushing out kidnappers, terrorists, and other criminal elements, as well as rescuing possible victims.
During the raid, eight suspects identified as Jamilu Mohammad (25), Kasim Abu (33), Braimoh Affeez (31), Sulaiman Hamisu (36), Lawan Umaru (25), Bawa Auwal (24), Musa Umaru (40), and Amodu Attai (50) were arrested.
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Items recovered from the suspects included one English-made pump-action gun, four live cartridges, and a locally fabricated pistol. Security operatives also seized a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, two weighing scales suspected to be used for Indian hemp, quantities of substances believed to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud and colos, as well as the sum of ₦87,550.
In a related operation, troops of 4 Brigade, in collaboration with the Edo State Police Command, combed the Aviele Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area as part of efforts to dismantle criminal hideouts in the area.
Five additional suspects—Isiaka Abubakar (37), Mohammad Abubakar (25), Yusuf Abubakar (24), Mohammed Somu (20), and Isiaka Ibrahim (30)—were arrested during the forest raid. Recovered items included two motorcycles, two Android phones, and a power bank.
All suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Speaking on the operations, the Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the swift response and synergy among the participating security agencies. He warned that Edo State would no longer be a safe haven for terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal elements.
Brigadier General Balogun reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and expressed appreciation to the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, for his strategic guidance and support.
By PRNigeria
