Troops rescue three kidnap victims, kill two suspected terrorists in Edo

The Nigerian Army says troops, in a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, have rescued three kidnapped victims, neutralised two suspected terrorists and recovered arms during an operation in Edo State.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Army said the operation followed a report of a kidnap incident at Ambrose Alli University on Monday.

It said troops, acting on credible intelligence, teamed up with police personnel and local vigilantes to pursue the suspected kidnappers to their hideout in Esan Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Army, the joint security team engaged the suspects in a gun battle, during which two of them were killed, while others fled the area under sustained pressure from the operatives.

It said the fleeing suspects abandoned their captives during the operation, leading to the rescue of the three victims, who were unharmed.

The Army said security operatives recovered three AK-47 rifles, 39 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, three mobile phones and two power banks from the scene.

It added that the recovered items are in custody, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing members of the criminal gang.

The Army reiterated its commitment to working with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to combat criminality across the country, urging members of the public to support ongoing operations by providing credible information on criminal hideouts and collaborators.