Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating under the 2 Division as part of Operation Wabaizigan, have rescued 14 people abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Lagos–Benin Expressway in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the Army said the rescue operation followed a kidnapping incident that occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
According to the statement, troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence about the attack and immediately launched a pursuit of the kidnappers along their escape route. The intense pressure forced the suspects to abandon 11 of the victims before fleeing into a nearby forest.
The Army said troops returned to the area on Friday, July 31, for a follow-up clearance operation, during which they searched the forest and successfully rescued the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of those freed to 14.
All the rescued victims were given preliminary medical examinations and debriefed before being confirmed to be in stable condition. They were subsequently reunited with their families or allowed to continue their journeys.
The military said efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, describing the successful operation as a reflection of the Army’s operational readiness and intelligence-led strategy in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies.
It also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to strengthen ongoing efforts to enhance security across Edo State.
Commending the troops for their professionalism, courage and resilience, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the Brigade’s area of responsibility.
He added that troops would sustain aggressive operations to ensure criminal elements are denied safe havens within the state.
