Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, working with the Nigeria Police Force, have rescued 50-year-old farmer Lucky Egbiki after he was abducted from his farm in Okehussan, Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State. The rescue took place around 6 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2026, following credible intelligence on the abduction.

According to the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City, Kennedy Anyanwu, security forces used ransom negotiations to draw the kidnappers to a predetermined location at Onogholo. When one of the suspects arrived to collect the ransom, troops engaged the gang and killed him, forcing the others to abandon Egbiki and escape into the surrounding forest. Some members of the gang were also believed to have suffered gunshot wounds.

The troops recovered the N1.5 million ransom that had been prepared for the kidnappers and found Egbiki unharmed. The farmer was taken through preliminary debriefing and medical assessment before being reunited with his family in stable condition. Follow-up clearance operations conducted on Aug. 7 and 8 saw troops search the surrounding forest, although they did not make further contact with the fleeing suspects.

The Army described the operation as evidence of its “operational readiness” and “intelligence-driven approach” to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in Edo. Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmed Balogun commended the troops for their “proactiveness, courage and professionalism” and pledged continued “aggressive and intelligence-led operations” against criminal elements. The Army also urged Edo residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.