Army, Police, others apprehend 8 suspected kidnappers with illicit drugs, weapons in Edo
Edo State Security Forces Arrest Eight Suspected Kidnappers and Drug Dealers
Benin City, Edo State — Troops of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, in cooperation with the Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the State Security Service (SSS), apprehended eight individuals suspected of kidnapping and drug trafficking during an operation on February 4, 2026.
The operation, named IGBO DANU 1, targeted terrorist activities and aimed to rescue victims in the Osara Community of Etsako West Local Government Area, as well as in the Auchi and Okpella Communities, all located in the Edo North Senatorial District.
Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the Brigade, confirmed the arrests and identified the suspects as Jamilu Mohammad, Kasim Abu, Braimoh Affeez, Sulaiman Hamisu, Lawan Umaru, Bawa Auwal, Musa Umaru, and Amodu Attai.
During the operation, authorities seized several items, including an English auto pump-action gun, four live cartridges, and a locally-made pistol. Additional items recovered included a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, two cutlasses, a Nikon digital camera, two Android phones, a metal hook, five bottles of codeine syrup, two scales for weighing marijuana, and various substances believed to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, and other narcotics. A total of N87,550 was also confiscated.
The Brigade has transferred the suspects and the recovered items to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.
Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, Commander of the 4 Brigade, praised the collaborative efforts of the security agencies involved in the operation. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards criminal activities in Edo State, asserting that such conduct would not be tolerated.
Balogun reiterated the Brigade’s commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and properties in the state, acknowledging the support of Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, for his strategic guidance throughout the operation.
