Nigerian Army Neutralizes Notorious Kidnapper and Rescues Four Hostages in Strategic Edo Forest Raid

Nigerian Army troops rescue 4 hostages and neutralize a notorious kidnapper in Edo's Warake Forest during Operation IGBO DANU 1 on March 5, 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 4:21 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Newsdiaryonline

Tactical Night Patrol Leads to Firefight in Warake Forest Hideout

Security forces in Edo State achieved a major breakthrough in the early hours of Thursday, March 5, 2026, following a successful intervention in the Warake Forest area of Auchi. Troops of the 4 Brigade, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, were conducting a night patrol when they were alerted by the sound of gunfire within the dense foliage. According to Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, the soldiers engaged a gang of kidnappers in a fierce gun battle. The superior firepower of the troops eventually forced the criminals to abandon their positions. One notorious suspect, who had long been terrorizing the Auchi environs, was neutralized during the exchange, while his accomplices fled deeper into the forest.

Four Abducted Victims Rescued Unhurt and Reunited with Families

The primary objective of the mission, designated as Operation IGBO DANU 1, was the safe recovery of civilians held captive by the gang. Following the firefight, troops discovered and rescued four individuals: Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27), and Mutanibi Kalifa (16). Capt. Anyanwu confirmed that all four victims were found unhurt despite the trauma of their ordeal. Following a medical evaluation, the survivors were officially reunited with their families. In addition to the rescue, security operatives recovered N650,000 in cash, along with several mobile phones, a power bank, and miscellaneous footwear belonging to the neutralized suspect.

Secondary Raid in Ujemen Community Uncovers Ritual Shrine

In a coordinated effort to dismantle the kidnapping infrastructure in the state, the 4 Brigade launched a separate raid in the Ujemen community of Esan West Local Government Area. Working alongside the Edo Security Corps, soldiers targeted a residential building suspected of serving as a logistics base for criminal elements. During the operation, 39-year-old Omogbegha Solomon was apprehended. A search of the premises revealed an abandoned room converted into a shrine containing various charms and photographs of potential targets. Army officials confirmed that the shrine was destroyed on-site to disrupt the gang's psychological and spiritual operations, while the suspect was transferred to the Nigeria Police Force for further interrogation.