Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army have arrested 12 suspected kidnappers and their collaborators during coordinated operations across Edo North and Edo Central senatorial districts.
The arrests followed clearing and cordon-and-search operations carried out between May 12 and May 19, 2026, in Owan East, Esan South-East, and Esan North-East Local Government Areas. Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, confirmed the development in a statement released in Benin City on Tuesday.
According to Anyanwu, troops apprehended three suspects identified as Ishaya Obadis, 20, Markus Ballu, 35, and Godknows Owonoji, 30, at Olelo Forest. Two others, 70-year-old Bala Mahmood and Ibrahim Abdullahi, 25, were also arrested during clearance operations in Ekeke Forest, Ishiolili Village, and Camp Sule Rugan Fulani in Owan East.
Preliminary investigations revealed that three of the suspects were acting as collaborators and logistics suppliers for kidnapping gangs operating in the area. Items recovered from them included two motorcycles, two mobile phones, dangerous weapons, and a small Tecno phone. The suspects and recovered items were handed over to the Ekpoma Police Division for further investigation and prosecution.
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In a separate operation, troops cleared Uwarlor-Oke Forest in Esan North-East and the Udo Government Reserve Forest in Esan South-East, where seven more suspects were arrested. They were identified as Isah Shehu, 25, Hamadu Safiyanu, 22, Tijani Shehu, 24, Yahaya Babangida, 25, Usman Hamza, 26, Abduladi Saleh, 23, and Gadafi Tukur, 27. One motorcycle and two Itel phones were recovered from the group before they were transferred to the Amendokhian Police Division.
The military also conducted joint operations with the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes at Emu Forest in Esan South-East, where a locally made long-barreled gun and another motorcycle were recovered and deposited at the Ubiaja Police Division.
Captain Anyanwu assured that the 4 Brigade would sustain its operations to rid Edo State of criminal elements and restore safety in affected communities.
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