Nigerian Army Rescues 14 Kidnap Victims Along Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo
Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, 2 Division, operating under Operation WABAIZIGAN, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims following a swift and coordinated response to a kidnap incident along the Lagos-Benin Expressway in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The operation, which further highlights the Nigerian Army’s commitment to protecting lives and denying criminal elements freedom of action, was launched at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
According to a statement by the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, troops on routine patrol received credible information about the abduction and immediately pursued the kidnappers along their withdrawal route.
The sustained pressure from the troops forced the criminals to abandon 11 of their victims before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
In a follow-up clearance operation conducted on Friday, July 31, troops continued their search of the forest and successfully rescued the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of persons rescued to 14.
The rescued victims underwent preliminary debriefing and medical assessment and were confirmed to be in stable condition. They were subsequently reunited with their families or permitted to continue their respective journeys.
Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.
The Army said the successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of its intelligence-driven approach, operational readiness and determination to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with sister security agencies.
The public was also encouraged to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information, noting that community support remains critical to sustaining operational successes and improving security across Edo State.
The Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage, resilience and proactive response during the operation.
He reassured residents of Edo State and commuters along the Brigade’s area of operations of the Army’s continued commitment to protecting lives and property.
The Commander further affirmed that troops would sustain aggressive operations aimed at denying criminal elements safe havens and creating a secure environment for law-abiding citizens.
Nigerian Army Rescues 14 Kidnap Victims Along Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo