Nigerian Army Raids Kidnappers’ Hideouts in Edo North, Arrests 13 Suspects
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade have dismantled several kidnappers’ hideouts across Edo North Senatorial District, arresting no fewer than 13 suspected criminals during a coordinated security operation.
The clearance exercise, which took place on February 4, was carried out by Army troops working alongside personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, the Edo State Police Command, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Edo State Security Corps, PulseNets learnt.
The joint operation, codenamed Operation Igbo Danu 1, focused on identified flashpoints within Osara community in Etsako West Local Government Area, as well as Auchi and Okpella communities, following intelligence on criminal activities in the axis.
PulseNets obtained that eight suspected kidnappers and illicit drug dealers were apprehended during the first phase of the operation.
Those arrested were identified as Jamilu Mohammad (25), Kasim Abu (33), Braimoh Affeez (31), Sulaiman Hamisu (36), Lawan Umaru (25), Bawa Auwal (24), Musa Umaru (40), and Amodu Attai (50).
Security operatives recovered several incriminating items from the suspects, including one English pump-action rifle, four live cartridges, and one locally fabricated pistol.
Other items seized during the raid comprised a point-of-sale (PoS) machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android mobile phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, two weighing scales, and quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud, and colos. The sum of ₦87,550 in cash was also recovered.
PulseNets reported that the Nigerian Army confirmed that all suspects, alongside the recovered exhibits, were handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In a related development, troops of 4 Brigade, in collaboration with police operatives, also carried out a sweep of the Aviele forest in Etsako West Local Government Area as part of efforts to flush out suspected kidnappers and terrorist elements.
During the forest operation, five additional suspects were arrested. They were identified as Isiaka Abubakar (37), Mohammad Abubakar (25), Yusuf Abubakar (24), Mohammed Somu (20), and Isiaka Ibrahim (30).
Items recovered from the suspects included two motorcycles, two Android phones, and a power bank, according to information PulseNets obtained from security sources.
Speaking on the success of the coordinated operations, the Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Ahmed Balogun, issued a stern warning to criminal elements operating within the state.
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He declared that Edo State would be “untenable for terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements to carry out their nefarious activities.”
Balogun further reaffirmed the brigade’s commitment to the protection of lives and property across Edo State, while commending the synergy and professionalism displayed by all security agencies involved in the operation, PulseNets was told.
