By Seyi Babalola
Troops of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and Edo State Police Command, on Thursday stormed some forests in Edo-north to clear the area of criminal elements.
This is contained in a statement by the spokesman of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu.
He also said other sister agencies that took part in the operation, IGBO DANU 1, include the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Edo State Security Corps.
He said the mission was undertaken to flush out terrorists, kidnappers and rescue victims at Osara Community in Etsako West Local Government Area as well as Auchi and Okpella Communities all in Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State.
Captain also that during the operation, eight suspected kidnappers and illicit drug peddlers were arrested.
The suspects, according to him, were identified as Jamilu Mohammad (25), Kasim Abu (33), Braimoh Affeez (31), Sulaiman Hamisu (36), Lawan Umaru (25), Bawa Auwal (24), Musa Umaru (40), and Amodu Attai (50).
He also said weapons recovered from the suspects include one English Auto Pump-action gun, four live cartridges, and one locally made pistol.
“Other items seized were a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, two Indian hemp weighing scales, and quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud and colos.
“The sum of ₦87,550 was also recovered.
“The suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.”
He disclosed that, “In a related development, troops of 4 Brigade, in conjunction with the Edo State Police Command also combed the Aviele Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area aimed at flushing out suspected terrorists and kidnappers.
“During the raid, five suspected kidnappers, Isiaka Abubakar (37), Mohammad Abubakar (25), Yusuf Abubakar (24), Mohammed Somu (20), and Isiaka Ibrahim (30) were arrested. Items recovered from them include two motorcycles, two Android phones, and a power bank.
“The suspects and recovered items were also handed over to the police for further investigation.”
He added that the Commander, 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, who led the operations, commended the swift response and collaboration among the security agencies.
Anyanwu said Balogun warned that Edo State will be untenable for terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements to carry out their nefarious activities.
Balogun also reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to safeguarding lives and properties in the state.
He expressed appreciation to the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, for his strategic guidance and support.
