Troops Kill Kidnapper, Rescue Abducted Edo Farmer
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have rescued a kidnapped farmer in Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The victim, 50-year-old Lucky Egbiki, was abducted at his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja.
The security forces, acting on intelligence, used ransom negotiations to lure the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo on August 6, where troops engaged them.
One of the kidnappers who arrived to collect the ransom was killed, while the others fled into the surrounding forest, with some believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The troops rescued Egbiki unhurt and recovered the ₦1.5 million ransom intended for the kidnappers.
He was later reunited with his family after medical assessment and preliminary debriefing.
The Army said follow-up clearance operations conducted on August 7 and 8 failed to make further contact with the fleeing suspects.
Commander of 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, commended the troops for their courage and professionalism, assuring residents that the Brigade would sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements in Edo State.
