RismadarVoice Reporters
August 1, 2026
Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under 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 Nigerian Army said the rescue operation was launched at about 9:30 p.m. on July 30 after troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence about the abduction.
According to the Army, the troops immediately pursued the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon 11 of the victims and flee into a nearby forest.
A follow-up clearance operation conducted the following day led to the rescue of the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of rescued persons to 14.
The Army said all the victims were medically assessed, confirmed to be in stable condition and subsequently reunited with their families or allowed to continue their journeys.
Security operatives have since launched a manhunt for the fleeing kidnappers.
The Nigerian Army described the operation as a demonstration of its intelligence-driven approach and determination to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies.
Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage and resilience during the operation.
He reassured residents of Edo State and commuters along the Lagos-Benin Expressway of the Army’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that troops would sustain aggressive operations to deny criminal elements safe havens.
The Army also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to strengthen efforts at tackling insecurity.
