Crime

Soldiers kill notorious kidnapper, rescue four victims in Edo

Published

2 months ago

March 5, 2026

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade under 2 Division, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps, have neutralised a suspected notorious kidnapper, rescued four abducted victims and arrested another suspect during separate operations in Edo State.

The operations were carried out under Operation IGBO DANU 1 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area, and Ujemen in Esan West Local Government Area.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu.

According to the statement, the troops conducted a night operation on Tuesday, following reports of gunshots in Warake Forest.

The statement read, “Troops during Operation IGBO DANU 1 working alongside personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and local vigilantes carried out a night operation on March 3, 2026 in Warake Forest, Auchi Local Government Area.

“The troops responded to gunshots heard in the forest during a night patrol with aggressive pursuit and minimum use of firearms.

“The gallant troops neutralised a notorious kidnapper that has been terrorising Auchi and environs during the encounter. The superior firepower of troops forced the remaining criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the bush.”

The Army said four kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation and later reunited with their families.

The statement added, “Four victims including Stella Abbas (29), Tina Ododa (19), Razak Rashid (27) and Mutanibi Kalifa (16), were rescued unhurt and later reunited with their families.

“Items recovered from the neutralised kidnapper are cash amount of Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N650,000) only, footwear, power bank and mobile phones.”

The Army further revealed that troops carried out another operation the same day in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area, where a suspected kidnapper was arrested.

“In a separate operation on March 3 2026, troops in collaboration with the Edo State Security Corps raided a house in Ujemen, Esan West Local Government Area suspected to be a kidnapper’s hideout.

“A 39-year-old suspect, Omogbegha Solomon, was arrested during the raid.

“During the operation, troops discovered a shrine containing charms and photographs of various individuals in an abandoned room within the compound. The shrine was destroyed in-situ, and the suspect was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Ekpoma Division for further investigation,” the statement added.

The Commander of 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to intensify operations against criminal elements in the state.

“The Commander 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their dexterity and urged them to sustain the aggressive onslaught against all the criminal elements in line with directives from the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife,” the statement added.

Balogun also reassured residents of the brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Edo State.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Troops intercept suspected terrorists’ couriers, recover ammunition in Kogi

Published

11 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Troops of the Nigerian Army have intercepted suspected terrorists’ logistics couriers and recovered a cache of ammunition in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, April 20, 2026.

According to the statement, the operation, conducted on April 20 by troops of 12 Brigade, followed credible intelligence on the movement of suspected logistics elements within the area.

Acting on the information, troops mounted a snap checkpoint along the Obajana–Kabba road, where they intercepted a Toyota bus conveying the suspects from Makurdi toward Obajana.

The suspects were identified as Mallam Zubairu Abubakar and Adamu Abubakar Abdullahi.

In a related operation on March 29, troops intercepted another suspected courier along the Jamata–Owara road in Lokoja, where a motorcycle modified with a concealed compartment for transporting ammunition was discovered.

Further investigations led to the arrest of a high-profile suspect, Mathew Elisha, also known as Nasara, who was reportedly on a security watch list.

“Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, over a span of three months have intensified a series of operations and intelligence driven efforts aimed at cracking down on terrorists and dismantling their logistics supply networks within the operational environment,” the statement read.

“In one of such operations, troops deployed along Road Jamata–Owara in Lokoja Local Government Area on 29 March 2026, intercepted a suspected terrorist logistics courier riding a motorcycle.

“Troops further carried out an intensive search on the motorcycle which revealed it had been specially modified with a concealed compartment for the covert conveyance of ammunition, in addition to other items.

“Preliminary findings further established links between the suspect and known terrorist elements, leading to follow-on operations.

“Following the arrest of high-profile terrorist ammunition courier, Mathew Elisha (alias Nasara), who had been on security watch lists, troops of the Brigade recorded another operational success by intercepting two suspected terrorists’ logistics couriers and recovering a large cache of ammunition in Kogi State.

“The operation which was conducted on 20 April 2026, followed credible intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorists’ logistics elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.

“Acting swiftly on the report, troops deployed at Response Area Oshokoshoko mounted a snap checkpoint along Road Obajana–Kabba in Lokoja Local Government Area.

“During the operation, troops intercepted a Toyota bus conveying the suspects en route Obajana from Makurdi.

“A thorough search of the vehicle led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists’ logistics couriers identified as Mallam Zubairu Abubakar and Adamu Abubakar Abdullahi.

“Further search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a sack containing 314 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition suspected to re establish their already dismantled network overtime and three AK-47 rifle magazines concealed behind the driver’s seat.

“Other items recovered from the suspects include two mobile phones, one driver’s licence, one National Identification Number slip, and an identity card.

“The suspects and recovered items have been handed over to 12 Military Intelligence Regiment for further investigation and necessary action.

“This successful interception underscores the vigilance and proactive posture of troops in denying terrorists freedom of movement and disrupting their logistics network within the operational environment.”

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Crime

PHOTOS: Nigerian Navy intercepts three stowaways off Lagos coast

Published

11 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Nigerian Navy has intercepted and rescued three suspected stowaways aboard the merchant vessel MSC STELLA (IMO No. 9279988) off the Lagos Fairway Buoy.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain A A Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Folorunsho stated that the operation was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT following credible intelligence from the Western Regional Control Centre, WRCC, at about 5.05 p.m. on April 19.

According to the statement, the suspects identified as Aguru Michael, a national of Benin Republic; Soye Monday, from Ondo State; and Kentobou Peter, from Delta, intended to stowaway to Europe.

“The Nigerian Navy, through personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, has successfully intercepted and rescued three suspected stowaways aboard the merchant vessel MSC STELLA (IMO No. 9279988) off the Lagos Fairway Buoy, in a continued demonstration of its Search and Rescue (SAR) and maritime security commitment,” the statement read.

“The operation followed credible intelligence received from the Western Regional Control Centre (WRCC), at about 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, 19 April 2026.

“Acting swiftly, the Quick Response Team (QRT) of NNS BEECROFT, stationed at Tarkwa Bay, was immediately deployed to the vessel’s location.

“The team successfully rescued the three suspects approximately five nautical miles off the Lagos coastline.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects illegally boarded the vessel at about 1:00 a.m. on Friday, 17 April 2026, while it was berthed at Tin Can Island Port.

“The individuals identified as Aguru Michael (27), a national of the Benin Republic; Soye Monday (25), from Ondo State; and Kentobou Peter (22), from Delta State, reportedly intended to stow away to Europe.

“This recent rescue effort exemplifies the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives at sea.

“Building on previous successful SAR missions—such as the rescue of seven individuals after the collision involving a Tantita Patrol boat and a wooden vessel in Bayelsa, and the rescue and handover of three foreign stowaways aboard MT ANATOLIA in March 2026—the Navy continues to demonstrate its robust operational tempo in countering irregular migration and ensuring maritime safety across Nigeria’s waters.

“The suspects are now in the custody of NNS BEECROFT, where they are undergoing thorough investigation and administrative processing in line with established laws.

“The Nigerian Navy reaffirms its dedication to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain and maintaining effective Search and Rescue operations to combat illegal activities within the country’s territorial waters.”

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Crime

Police nab 60-year-old suspected gunrunner in Cross River

Published

13 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

A 60-year-old suspected gunrunner, Okon William, has been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command in the Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the arrest, which was carried out in the Ubanbat community following credible intelligence received by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led to the recovery of two locally fabricated firearms.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, on Monday, the operation led to the swift arrest of the suspect and the recovery of illegal weapons.

The statement read in part, “The Cross River State Police Command, in its sustained effort to combat the proliferation of illegal arms and violent crime, has arrested a suspected gunrunner, one Okon William ‘M’, aged 60 years, and recovered two (2) locally fabricated firearms in the Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

“The arrest followed credible intelligence received by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on the activities of a suspected arms trafficker within the Ubanbat community.

“Acting swiftly on the information, police operatives mobilised to the area and apprehended the suspect on April 19, 2026, at about 1700 hours.”

The command also disclosed: “Upon arrest, the suspect was subjected to a thorough search, which led to the recovery of two (2) locally fabricated long guns concealed in his possession.”

According to the statement, preliminary investigations show that the suspect is allegedly involved in illicit arms trafficking and used covert methods to avoid detection.

It added that he has already provided useful information aiding ongoing investigations into a wider arms fabrication and distribution network.

“The suspect is currently in police custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations. Efforts are being intensified to apprehend other members of the criminal network and recover additional illegal arms,” the statement read.

Reaffirming the command’s stance, the Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, urged residents to support security agencies with credible information, noting that the command remains committed to tackling violent crime across the state.

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