Troops Rescue 14 Kidnap Victims Along Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo
Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin, have rescued 14 kidnap victims following a successful operation along the Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo State.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
According to him, the operation was carried out in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State by troops deployed under Operation WABAIZIGAN.
Anyanwu said the rescue followed a kidnapping incident reported along the highway on Thursday night.
He explained that troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence about the attack at about 9:30 p.m. and immediately launched a pursuit of the kidnappers along their escape route.
“The sustained pressure mounted by the troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 11 abducted victims before fleeing into the surrounding forest,” he said.
The Army spokesperson added that troops later conducted a follow-up clearance operation in the forest on Friday, leading to the rescue of the remaining three victims.
All 14 rescued persons were taken through preliminary debriefing and medical checks and were confirmed to be in stable condition before being reunited with their families and allowed to continue their journeys.
Anyanwu said efforts were still ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing kidnappers.
He noted that the operation demonstrated the Army’s commitment to using intelligence-driven strategies and collaboration with other security agencies to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The Army also urged members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist security agencies in tackling criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage and dedication during the operation.
He assured residents of Edo State and commuters along the Lagos-Benin Expressway that the brigade would continue sustained operations to prevent criminals from establishing hideouts and ensure the safety of citizens.
