Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division and participating in Operation WABAIZIGAN, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims following a swift operation along the Lagos–Benin Expressway in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Army said the rescue mission was carried out after troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence at about 9:30 p.m. on July 30, 2026, about a kidnap incident along the busy highway.
According to a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the troops immediately launched a pursuit of the kidnappers along their escape route. The sustained pressure mounted by the soldiers forced the abductors to abandon 11 of their captives before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
The statement added that troops intensified operations with a follow-up clearance mission on July 31, during which they combed the forest and successfully rescued the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to 14.
Following preliminary debriefing and medical assessment, all the rescued victims were confirmed to be in stable condition. They were subsequently reunited with their families or allowed to continue their respective journeys.
The Army disclosed that efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.
It noted that the successful operation highlights the Nigerian Army’s intelligence-driven approach, operational readiness, and commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies.
The Army also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital to sustaining security successes across Edo State.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience, courage, and proactive response during the operation.
He reassured residents of Edo State and commuters within the Brigade’s area of responsibility of the Army’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that troops would continue aggressive operations to deny criminal elements safe havens and ensure a secure environment for law-abiding citizens.
