Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, based in Benin, have rescued 14 people abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Lagos-Benin Expressway in Edo State.

The development was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 4 Brigade, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu.

According to the statement, the operation was conducted by troops participating in Operation WABAIZIGAN in Ovia North-East Local Government Area after a kidnapping incident on the highway on Thursday night, July 30, 2026.

Soldiers on routine patrol received credible intelligence about the abduction at about 9:30 p.m. and immediately launched a pursuit of the fleeing suspects.

The swift response and sustained pressure forced the kidnappers to abandon 11 of the victims before escaping into a nearby forest.

A follow-up clearance operation in the forest on Friday led to the rescue of the remaining three victims, bringing the total to 14.

“All 14 rescued victims underwent preliminary debriefing and medical assessment and were confirmed to be in stable condition,” Anyanwu said. 

He noted that the victims had since been reunited with their families and allowed to continue their journeys.

Security operatives are continuing efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Anyanwu stressed that the successful operation demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s operational readiness and intelligence-led approach to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes, in collaboration with other security agencies.  

Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users