Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a notorious suspected kidnapper and rescued four abducted victims during a night operation in Warake Forest, Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Benin.
Anyanwu said the operation, conducted under Operation IGBO DANU 1, was carried out by troops of the brigade under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Edo Security Corps and local vigilantes.
According to him, on March 3, troops of the brigade heard gunshots during a night patrol in the forest. They subsequently engaged the criminals and during the encounter, overpowered them and forced the gang members to abandon their captives and flee.
”The troops responded to the gunshots heard in the forest with aggressive pursuit and minimum use of firearms, and neutralised a notorious kidnapper that has been terrorising Auchi and environs.”
Anyanwu said the four victims, whom he identified as Stella Abbas, 29; Tina Ododa, 19; Razak Rashid, 27; and Mutanibi Kalifa, 16, were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families.
The troops also recovered ₦650,000 in cash, footwear, a power bank, and mobile phones from the neutralised suspect.