Troops of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims after suspected kidnappers ambushed commuters along the Lagos–Benin Expressway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to the Army, the troops responded swiftly to a distress call and engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding forest. The 14 victims were rescued unharmed.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with other security agencies as troops launched a follow-up pursuit into the forest to apprehend the fleeing suspects. Security personnel also recovered items believed to have been abandoned by the kidnappers during the exchange of gunfire.
Military authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining offensive operations against kidnapping and other violent crimes in Edo State and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to enhance public safety.