Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division and participating in Operation WABAIZIGAN, have rescued 14 kidnap victims following a swift operation along the Lagos–Benin Expressway in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to the Nigerian Army, the rescue operation began at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, after troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence about a kidnap incident along the highway.
The troops immediately pursued the suspected kidnappers along their escape route, forcing them to abandon 11 of the abducted victims before fleeing into a nearby forest.
A follow-up clearance operation carried out on Friday, July 31, led to the rescue of the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to 14.
The Army said all the victims underwent preliminary debriefing and medical assessment, were confirmed to be in stable condition, and were subsequently reunited with their families or allowed to continue their journeys.
It added that troops are continuing efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.
The Army noted that the operation highlights its operational readiness and intelligence-driven approach to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies. It also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience and courage during the operation.
He reassured residents of Edo State and commuters within the Brigade’s area of responsibility of the Army’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that troops would sustain aggressive operations to deny criminal elements safe havens and ensure a secure environment for law-abiding citizens.
