Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have rescued a 50-year-old farmer, Lucky Egbiki, who was abducted at his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The operation, conducted under Operation KO SALO, followed credible intelligence on the abduction of Egbiki and was carried out at about 6pm on August 6, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, the troops, working with the police, exploited ransom negotiations to lure the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo in Esan South East Local Government Area.
The security forces engaged the criminal elements when one of the kidnappers arrived at the location to collect the ransom.
During the encounter, troops neutralised the kidnapper, forcing other members of the gang to abandon their victim and flee into the surrounding forest. Some of the fleeing criminals were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The troops subsequently rescued Egbiki unhurt and recovered the sum of ₦1.5 million reportedly intended as ransom payment.
The rescued farmer was handed over to his family after undergoing preliminary debriefing and medical assessment, where he was confirmed to be in stable condition.
In a follow-up clearance operation conducted on August 7 and 8, troops combed the surrounding forest in an effort to track the fleeing kidnappers. However, no further contact was made with the criminal elements.
The Army said the operation demonstrated the troops’ operational readiness and intelligence-driven approach to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in Edo State.
It also highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration between the military and other security agencies in enhancing the effectiveness of operations against criminal elements.
The Army urged residents of Edo State to continue providing timely, credible and actionable information to security agencies, noting that public cooperation remained vital to sustaining operational successes and improving security across the state.
The Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their proactiveness, courage and professionalism during the operation.
Balogun reassured residents that the Brigade would continue to maintain sustained pressure on kidnappers and other criminal elements operating within its area of responsibility.
He further said the troops would sustain aggressive and intelligence-led operations aimed at denying criminals safe havens, protecting lives and property, and creating a secure environment for farming and other legitimate economic activities across Edo State.