Soldiers Rescue Farmer, Kill Kidnapper in Edo Operation

On August 6, 2026, troops from the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, conducted a successful operation in Ubiaja, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State. The operation was initiated following credible intelligence regarding the abduction of Lucky Egbiki, a 50-year-old farmer, who had been kidnapped at his farm in Okehussan.

The security forces lured the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo to collect ransom. During the encounter, one kidnapper was killed, prompting the others to flee into the forest, abandoning Egbiki.

The troops rescued him unhurt and recovered N1.5 million intended as ransom payment. Egbiki was subsequently handed over to his family after a medical assessment confirmed he was in stable condition.

A follow-up operation on August 7 and 8 aimed to track the fleeing kidnappers but yielded no further contact. The operation underscored the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in combating crime in Edo State.