Troops have killed a notorious suspected kidnapper and rescued four abducted victims during a night operation in Warake Forest, Auchi, Etsako West LGA, says the Nigerian Army.

A statement by the army on Thursday said the operation, conducted under Operation IGBO DANU 1, was carried out by troops of the brigade under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Edo Security Corps and local vigilantes.

According to the statement, on Tuesday, troops of the brigade heard gunshots during a night patrol in the forest and subsequently engaged the criminals and, during the encounter, overpowered them and forced the gang members to abandon their captives and flee.

”The troops responded to the gunshots heard in the forest with aggressive pursuit and minimum use of firearms, and neutralised a notorious kidnapper who has been terrorising Auchi and environs,” added the statement.

It said the four victims, whom he identified as Stella Abbas, 29; Tina Ododa, 19; Razak Rashid, 27; and Mutanibi Kalifa, 16, were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families.

It added that the troops also recovered N650,000 in cash, footwear, a power bank and mobile phones from the neutralised suspect.

The army also said that in a related development, troops arrested a suspected kidnapper during a separate operation in the Ujemen community in Esan West LGA.

It explained that troops, working with the Edo Security Corps, raided a house suspected to be a kidnapper’s hideout where a 39-year-old suspect, Omogbegha Solomon, was apprehended.

It explained that during the raid, security operatives discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals in an abandoned room within the compound.

”The shrine was destroyed on-site, while the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpoma Division, for further investigation,” the statement said.

It also mentioned that the commander, 4 Brigade, Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain the offensive against criminal elements.

Mr Balogun also reassured residents of Edo of the army’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state. 

(NAN)