Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, 2 Division, alongside other security agencies and the Edo State Security Corps, have arrested 12 suspected kidnappers during coordinated clearance operations in parts of Edo State.
The security operations, codenamed “Operation KO SALO,” began on May 12, 2026, targeting criminal hideouts in Owan East and Esan South-East Local Government Areas.
According to the Army, troops raided locations including Ugbovbighan Village, Olelo Forest, Egoro Amede Village, and Rugan Fulani settlements, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Ishaya Obadis, Markus Ballu, and Godknows Owonoji.
Security operatives also recovered motorcycles and mobile phones during the operation. Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the suspects to kidnapping activities as collaborators and logistics suppliers. They were later handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation.
Further raids carried out in Ekeke Forest, Ishiolili Village, and Camp Sule Rugan Fulani resulted in the arrest of two additional suspects, Bala Mahmood and Ibrahim Abdullahi. Dangerous weapons were reportedly recovered during the operation, while the suspects were also transferred to the police.
Troops later extended the operation to Uwarlor-Oke Forest in Esan North-East and Udo Government Reserve Forest in Esan South-East, where seven more suspects, including Isah Shehu and Hamadu Safiyanu, were arrested.
Recovered exhibits from the operation included motorcycles, mobile phones, and a locally made long-barrel gun discovered during a separate raid at Emu Forest in Esan South-East.
The Commander of the 4 Brigade, Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their professionalism and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.
He also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence to aid ongoing operations.
Experienced broadcast journalist with over 5 years of experience in reporting, multimedia editing, and storytelling across both traditional and digital media. I currently work with Vision FM 92.1 and Daily Frontier, where I report on security, conflict, and humanitarian issues, while also translating news into Hausa and Pidgin to reach wider audiences.
I also serve as a correspondent for Daily Frontier in Plateau and Benue States, Nigeria, covering security, conflict, and humanitarian developments in the region.
I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication from Adamawa State Polytechnic and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria.
