By Opeyemi Adelakun
Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued 14 persons abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Lagos-Benin Expressway following a swift operation in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The operation was launched after troops on routine patrol received intelligence on Thursday night’s kidnapping incident and immediately pursued the attackers along their escape route.
Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, said the sustained pressure mounted by troops participating in Operation WABAIZIGAN forced the kidnappers to abandon 11 victims before fleeing into a nearby forest.
He added that troops extended the operation into the forest on Friday, leading to the rescue of the remaining three victims.
“The sustained pressure mounted by the troops forced the kidnappers to abandon 11 abducted victims before fleeing into the surrounding forest. Troops subsequently launched a follow-up clearance operation, leading to the rescue of the remaining three victims,” Anyanwu said.
According to him, all 14 victims underwent medical assessment and preliminary debriefing before being reunited with their families to continue their journeys.
The Army spokesperson said security operatives have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing kidnappers and bring them to justice.
He noted that the successful operation demonstrated the military’s operational readiness and intelligence-driven strategy in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage and resilience during the rescue mission.
Balogun reassured residents of Edo State and commuters on the Lagos-Benin Expressway of the military’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, stressing that sustained operations would continue to deny criminal elements safe havens in the area.
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