Kidnappers Flee as Army Rescues 14 Victims in Edo

Fourteen kidnap victims have regained their freedom after soldiers launched a fierce pursuit that forced their abductors to abandon 11 of them and flee into the Edo forest.

The remaining three victims were later rescued after troops intensified a clearance operation in the forest, bringing to 14 the number of victims recovered by the Nigerian Army.

The operation, conducted under Operation WABAIZIGAN, followed a kidnap incident along the Lagos-Benin Expressway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, reportedly responded to the incident at about 9:30pm on Thursday after receiving credible intelligence while on routine patrol.

The soldiers immediately went after the fleeing kidnappers along their withdrawal route, mounting sustained pressure on the criminals.

Unable to withstand the military pursuit, the kidnappers abandoned 11 of their victims and escaped into the surrounding forest.

Determined to ensure that no victim was left behind, the troops launched a follow-up clearance operation on Friday, combing the forest in search of the remaining abductees.

The operation paid off as the soldiers rescued the three other victims, completing the recovery of all 14 kidnapped persons.

The victims were subjected to preliminary debriefing and medical assessment and were all confirmed to be in stable condition.

They were subsequently reunited with their families or allowed to continue their respective journeys.

The Army said efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, proactive posture, resilience and courage displayed during the operation.

Balogun reassured residents of Edo State and commuters within the Brigade’s area of operations of the Army’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He said troops would continue to sustain aggressive operations aimed at denying criminal elements safe havens and ensuring a secure environment for law-abiding citizens.

The Army also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that such support remained vital to sustaining operational successes and enhancing security across the state.