Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade have arrested 13 suspected kidnappers during coordinated security operations across communities in Edo North Senatorial District.

The operations, codenamed Operation IGBO DANU I, were carried out on February 4 in Osara Community, Auchi, Okpella and Aviele Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, disclosed this in a statement issued on February 5, 2026.

According to the statement, the raids were conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, the Edo State Police Command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Edo State Security Corps.

Eight suspects were arrested during the initial raids, while five others were apprehended in a follow-up operation at Aviele Forest.

Those arrested in the first phase were identified 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.

Weapons recovered from the suspects include one English auto pump-action gun, one locally made pistol and four live cartridges.

Also said to have been recovered were substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, codeine syrup, ice, loud and colos.

The statement said other items recovered include two motorcycles, a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, cutlasses, mobile phones, weighing scales, a digital camera and ₦87,550 cash.

It explained that the five additional suspects arrested in the follow-up operation include Isiaka Abubakar, 37, Mohammad Abubakar, 25, Yusuf Abubakar, 24, Mohammed Somu, 20, and Isiaka Ibrahim, 30, as two motorcycles, two Android phones and a power bank were recovered from them.

Captain Anyanwu said the suspects and recovered exhibits have been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.

The Commander, 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, assured that the Army would sustain security operations to prevent Edo State from becoming a haven for kidnappers and other criminal elements.