Army troops rescue abducted farmer, neutralize kidnapper during ransom operation in Edo
Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have rescued a 50-year-old farmer, Mr. Lucky Egbiki, who was abducted at his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The rescue operation was carried out at about 6:00 p.m. on 6 August 2026, following credible intelligence on the farmer’s abduction.
According to the Nigerian Army, security operatives exploited ransom negotiations to lure the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo in Esan South East LGA, where troops and police personnel engaged the criminal group.
During the encounter, one of the kidnappers who arrived at the location to collect the ransom was neutralized by the troops. The other members of the gang reportedly fled into the surrounding forest, with some believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The troops subsequently rescued Egbiki unharmed and recovered the N1.5 million ransom money intended for the kidnappers. The victim was handed over to his family after preliminary debriefing and medical assessment, and was confirmed to be in stable condition.
In a follow-up clearance operation conducted on 7 and 8 August, troops combed the surrounding forest in an effort to locate the fleeing kidnappers. However, no further contact was made with the criminal elements.
The operation highlights the role of intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration in tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes in Edo State.
The Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their courage, proactiveness and professionalism during the operation.
He assured residents that the Brigade would sustain aggressive and intelligence-driven operations to deny criminal elements safe havens, protect lives and property, and create a secure environment for farming and other legitimate economic activities across the state.
Residents of Edo State were also urged to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information to support ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities.
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