Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade have rescued 14 people abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Lagos-Benin Expressway, following a swift operation in Edo State.
The victims were rescued during a search and rescue mission launched after soldiers received intelligence about the kidnapping on Thursday night.
The Nigerian Army said the operation was carried out by troops participating in **Operation WABAIZIGAN** in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, a section of the busy Lagos-Benin highway that has witnessed repeated security concerns in recent years.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu.
According to the statement, troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday that armed kidnappers had attacked travellers along the expressway and abducted several people.
The soldiers immediately mobilised and launched a pursuit of the kidnappers along their escape route.
The Army said the rapid response placed intense pressure on the criminals, forcing them to abandon 11 of the kidnapped victims before fleeing into a nearby forest.
Rather than ending the operation after the initial rescue, the troops continued combing the area in search of the remaining victims and the fleeing suspects.
Captain Anyanwu said soldiers carried out a follow-up clearance operation inside the forest on Friday, where they successfully rescued three more victims.
The latest operation brought the total number of rescued victims to 14.
According to the Army, all the rescued victims were immediately given medical attention and questioned briefly to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The statement said medical assessments confirmed that all the victims were in stable condition.
Following the medical checks and preliminary debriefing, the victims were reunited with their families and allowed to continue their journeys.
Although the victims regained their freedom, security agencies are still searching for the kidnappers responsible for the attack.
Captain Anyanwu said troops had continued efforts to track down the fleeing suspects with the aim of arresting them and bringing them to justice.
He noted that the successful rescue demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led military operations and the growing collaboration between the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime.
“The operation underscores the Nigerian Army’s operational readiness and intelligence-driven approach to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes in collaboration with other security agencies,” the statement said.
The Army also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and reliable information that could assist ongoing operations against criminal groups.
According to military authorities, intelligence from residents remains one of the most effective tools in locating criminal hideouts and preventing attacks before they occur.
The Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, praised the troops for their courage, professionalism and determination during the rescue operation.
He commended the soldiers for acting swiftly after receiving intelligence and for remaining committed to ensuring that every abducted victim was rescued safely.
Balogun also reassured residents of Edo State and travellers using the Lagos-Benin Expressway that the military would continue to protect lives and property.
He said the brigade would sustain aggressive operations across its area of responsibility to deny criminal groups freedom of movement and prevent them from establishing safe havens.
According to him, law-abiding citizens should remain confident that security agencies are working together to improve safety along major highways.
The Lagos-Benin Expressway is one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, serving as a major link between Lagos and several states in the South-South and South-East regions.
Thousands of commercial vehicles, private motorists and heavy-duty trucks use the road daily for the movement of people and goods.
However, parts of the highway have become vulnerable to attacks by kidnappers and armed robbers, particularly in forested areas where criminals often take advantage of difficult terrain to ambush travellers.
Over the past few years, security agencies have intensified patrols and launched several operations aimed at restoring confidence among motorists.
Military formations, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilante groups and other security agencies have increased joint operations along the route to curb kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
The Federal Government has also repeatedly directed security agencies to strengthen surveillance on major highways as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
Despite these efforts, kidnapping for ransom remains one of Nigeria’s major security challenges.
Criminal gangs frequently target highways, rural communities and even urban areas, abducting victims and demanding large sums of money from their families before releasing them.
They also believe greater support from local communities is essential in identifying criminal hideouts and disrupting the activities of kidnappers.
The successful rescue of the 14 victims without reported fatalities is expected to boost public confidence in ongoing security operations along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.