Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, have arrested 12 suspected kidnappers and their alleged collaborators during coordinated clearance operations across forests and rural communities in Edo State.
The operations, carried out alongside other security agencies and the Edo State Security Corps, began on May 12, 2026, and focused on known criminal hideouts in Owan East, Esan North-East and Esan South-East Local Government Areas.
According to the military, the raids are part of “Operation KO SALO,” a special offensive designed to dismantle kidnapping networks and flush out criminals terrorising communities across the state.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Benin City, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu.
He said troops stormed several locations including Ugbovbighan Village, Olelo Forest, Egoro Amede Village, and also carried out a cordon-and-search operation at a Fulani settlement in Rugan area.
At Olelo Forest, three suspects — Ishaya Obadis (20), Markus Ballu (35), and Godknows Owonoji (30) — were arrested. Two motorcycles and two mobile phones were recovered from them.
Preliminary findings, according to the Army, suggest that the suspects acted as logistics suppliers and collaborators for kidnapping gangs operating in the area.
“The suspects were handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation,” the statement said.
In a separate operation, troops moved into Ekeke Forest, Ishiolili Village and Camp Sule in Owan East Local Government Area, where two more suspects — Bala Mahmood (70) and Ibrahim Abdullahi (25) — were arrested. Weapons and a mobile phone were also recovered.
All suspects and exhibits were handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further action.
The operation later extended to Uwarlor-Oke Forest in Esan North-East and Udo Government Reserve Forest in Esan South-East, where seven additional suspects were arrested.
They include Isah Shehu (25), Hamadu Safiyanu (22), Tijani Shehu (24), Yahaya Babangida (25), Usman Hamza (26), Abduladi Saleh (23), and Gadafi Tukur (27). One motorcycle and two mobile phones were recovered from them.
In another sweep, troops working with police and local vigilantes searched camps within Emu Forest in Esan South-East, recovering a locally made long-barrel gun and a motorcycle from Otobo and Nnamdo camps. The items were deposited at the Ubiaja Police Division.
The Nigerian Army said all suspects and recovered items have been handed over to police formations for investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the development, the Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, praised the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain the pressure on criminal hideouts across the state.
He also assured residents that the army remains committed to restoring peace and security, while calling on the public to continue providing useful intelligence to security agencies.
