A coordinated Army-Police operation in Edo State has led to the rescue of a 50-year-old farmer, Mr Lucky Egbiki.
The operation, conducted in Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area, was disclosed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, in a statement on the operation.
Egbiki was abducted from his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja, prompting security forces to launch intelligence-led efforts to locate him and identify an opportunity to intercept the kidnappers.
At about 1800 hours on 6 August, troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, under 2 Division, working with the Nigeria Police Force, exploited ransom negotiations to draw the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo.
The intervention turned the ransom collection point into an operational trap. One of the kidnappers who arrived to collect the ransom was neutralised during the encounter, while the remaining members of the gang abandoned the victim and fled into the surrounding forest. Some of the fleeing suspects were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The security forces recovered the ₦1.5 million intended as ransom and secured the victim without injury.
After preliminary debriefing and medical assessment, Egbiki was confirmed to be in stable condition and reunited with his family.
The operation has since shifted from rescue to pursuit, with troops conducting follow-up clearance operations across the surrounding forest on 7 and 8 August to locate the fleeing members of the kidnapping network. No further contact was recorded.
The development underscores the operational value of intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination and tactical control of ransom exchanges in disrupting kidnapping networks.
Rather than allowing the criminal group to dictate the terms of the transaction, security forces used the planned ransom collection to create an opportunity for intervention.
The Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their proactiveness, courage and professionalism, while reaffirming the Brigade’s determination to sustain pressure on kidnapping and other criminal networks within its area of responsibility.
The Brigade also urged residents to continue providing timely and actionable information to security agencies as troops intensify efforts to deny criminal elements safe havens and protect communities, farmers and legitimate economic activities across Edo State.
