BENIN CITY – Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, under 2 Division, have arrested three suspected kidnappers’ logistics suppliers and nine other suspects during coordinated operations across parts of Edo State, in a sustained crackdown on criminal networks operating in forested communities.
The operations, carried out under Operation KO SALO—a joint security offensive involving the Nigerian Army, other security agencies, and the Edo State Security Corps—also led to the recovery of arms, mobile phones and motorcycles allegedly used for criminal activities.
According to the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Benin City, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, the operations began on May 12, 2026, across Owan East and Esan South-East Local Government Areas as part of efforts to dislodge criminal elements from forests and suspected hideouts.
He said troops first arrested three suspects identified as Ishaya Obadis (20), Markus Ballu (35), and Godknows Owonoji (30) during coordinated raids at Ugbovbighan Village, Olelo Forest, Egoro Amede Village and a Rugan Fulani settlement.
Preliminary investigations, he stated, indicated that the suspects acted as logistics suppliers and collaborators for kidnapping gangs operating in the area.
Items recovered from them included two motorcycles and two mobile phones, after which the suspects were handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation.
Capt. Anyanwu further disclosed that troops extended the offensive to Ekeke Forest, Ishiolili Village and Camp Sule Rugan Fulani in Owan East Local Government Area, where two additional suspects were arrested, with dangerous weapons and a mobile phone recovered.
In a related development, seven more suspected kidnappers were apprehended during operations at Uwarlor-Oke Forest and Udo Government Reserve Forest.
A motorcycle and several mobile phones were also recovered from the suspects.
During a separate clearance operation, two suspects—Bala Mahmood (70) and Ibrahim Abdullahi (25)—were arrested. Items recovered from them included dangerous weapons and a small Tecno mobile phone.
They were also handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, troops in collaboration with police operatives and local vigilantes conducted raids at Emu Forest in Esan South-East Local Government Area, where a locally made long-barrel gun and a motorcycle were recovered from suspected criminal camps.
The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their performance and urged them to sustain ongoing operations against criminal elements across the state.
He also appealed to residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence to aid the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.