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Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade under 2 Division have arrested three suspected kidnappers’ logistics suppliers and nine other suspects during coordinated operations across parts of Edo State.
The operations also led to the recovery of arms, mobile phones and motorcycles allegedly used for criminal activities.
The arrests were made during Operation KO SALO, a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, other security agencies and the Edo State Security Corps aimed at flushing out criminal elements from forests and suspected hideouts in Owan East and Esan communities.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He the offensive started on 12 May 2026 in Owan East and Esan South-East Local Government Areas of Edo State.
According to him, troops arrested three suspects identified as Ishaya Obadis, 20, Markus Ballu, 35, and Godknows Owonoji, 30, during operations conducted at Ugbovbighan Village, Olelo Forest, Egoro Amede Village and Rugan Fulani settlement.
He said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly served as logistics suppliers and collaborators for kidnapping gangs operating within the area.
“Items recovered from the suspects include two motorcycles and two mobile phones,” Anyanwu stated.
He added that the suspects had been handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation.
The army spokesman further disclosed that troops later extended operations to Ekeke Forest, Ishiolili Village and Camp Sule Rugan Fulani in Owan East Local Government Area, where two additional suspects were arrested with dangerous weapons and a mobile phone recovered.
Capt. Anyanwu added that seven suspected kidnappers were also arrested during operations at Uwarlor-Oke Forest and Udo Government Reserve Forest, while a motorcycle and mobile phones were recovered from the suspects.
“During the clearance operation, two suspects namely; Bala Mahmood, aged 70, and Ibrahim Abdullahi, aged 25, were arrested. Items recovered from them included dangerous weapons and one small Tecno mobile phone. The suspects and recovered items were also handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation and prosecution”, he said.
Meanwhile, troops in collaboration with police operatives and local vigilantes conducted raids at Emu Forest in Esan South-East Local Government Area where a locally made long-barrel gun and a motorcycle were recovered from suspected camps.
The Commander, 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops and urged them to sustain ongoing operations against criminal elements across the state.
He also appealed to residents to provide security agencies with timely and credible information to support efforts aimed at combating kidnapping and other crimes.
