Troops of Nigerian Army have arrested 13 suspected kidnappers and drug peddlers during coordinated security operations across several communities in Edo State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the arrests were carried out on Wednesday in Osara community, Etsako West Local Government Area, as well as Auchi and Okpella communities in Edo North Senatorial District.
The operation, codenamed Operation IGBO DANU 1, involved joint efforts by the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Edo State Security Corps.
In a statement, Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and drug trafficking in the state.
He identified the first batch of suspects 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).
Items recovered from them included a pump-action gun, four live cartridges, a locally made pistol, a point-of-sale machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, weighing scales, substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, ice, loud and colos, as well as N87,550 in cash.
Anyanwu added that troops, working alongside police officers, also raided the Aviele forest in Etsako West Local Government Area, where five additional suspects; Isiaka Abubakar (37), Mohammad Abubakar (25), Yusuf Abubakar (24), Mohammed Somu (20), and Isiaka Ibrahim (30) were arrested. During the forest operation, security operatives recovered two motorcycles, two Android phones, and a power bank.
He said all the suspects, along with the recovered items, have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Speaking on the operation, Ahmed Balogun, Commander of 4 Brigade, commended the strong collaboration among the participating security agencies and warned that Edo State would be made untenable for kidnappers, terrorists, and other criminal elements.
Balogun reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to safeguarding lives and property in the state and expressed appreciation to Chinedu Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding of 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, for his leadership, guidance, and support in sustaining security operations across the region.
