ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Troops of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have successfully rescued a kidnapped victim.

The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, in a statement, said the victim was rescued during a coordinated operation in Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.

“The operation followed credible intelligence on the abduction of Mr Lucky Egbiki, aged 50, who was kidnapped at his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State,” he stated.

The army spokesperson further said security forces exploited ransom negotiations to lure the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo, within Esan South East Local Government Area, where they engaged the criminal elements.

During the encounter, one of the kidnappers who arrived at the location to collect the ransom was neutralised by the troops, forcing the other members of the gang to abandon the victim and flee into the surrounding forest, with some believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

The troops subsequently rescued the victim unhurt and recovered the sum of ₦1.5 million intended as ransom payment. The rescued victim was handed over to his family after preliminary debriefing and medical assessment and was confirmed to be in stable condition.

Captain Anyanwu encouraged the people of Edo State to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, as such support remains vital to sustaining operational successes and enhancing security across the state.

Meanwhile, the Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, has commended the troops for their proactiveness, courage and professionalism displayed during the operation.

The commander reassured the people of Edo State that the brigade would continue to apply sustained pressure on kidnappers and other criminal elements operating within its area of responsibility.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

President Bola Tinubu has urged religious and spiritual leaders to speak out against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and the misuse of religion to justify violence.

The president gave the advice on Sunday in Kano at the Grand Maulud of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tijani.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, President Tinubu noted that religious leaders had a crucial role to play in confronting violence, extremism and the manipulation of faith for destructive purposes.

He charged religious institutions and networks to strengthen advocacy for peace education, religious literacy, scholarship and the moral development of young people.

The president added that religious leaders should also use their influence to promote justice, responsibility, compassion and the peaceful resolution of grievances.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Ibn Mohammed bin Shakau, the biological son of the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has reportedly emerged within the ranks of the Boko Haram insurgent group

A counter-terrorism expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a post on X.

Makama noted that the development has raised fresh concerns over the possible continuation of the ideology and networks associated with his father, Shekau.

According to Zagazola, Ibn Mohammed is reportedly following the path of his father, who was one of the most notorious figures in Nigeria’s insurgency in the North-East.

Shekau became the leader of Boko Haram after the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and presided over some of the most violent periods of the insurgency.

Under his leadership, Boko Haram carried out attacks against communities, security personnel, government institutions and other civilian targets across the North-East and neighbouring countries.

Shekau was also known for his uncompromising leadership style and his use of propaganda videos to threaten governments and announce attacks.

“His death in 2021, following a confrontation with fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, significantly altered the dynamics of the insurgency in the Lake Chad region,” Zagazola noted.