By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
A joint security team has rescued three kidnapped victims and killed two suspected terrorists in a fierce gun battle in Edo State, dealing a major blow to a criminal gang that had been terrorising the Ambrose Alli University community.
The operation, launched on Monday following a distress call about a kidnapping on the university campus, saw soldiers from the Nigerian Army working alongside police officers and local vigilantes in a high-speed chase that led them deep into a forest hideout in Esan Local Government Area.
According to military sources, the security forces cornered the abductors at their camp, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire. The troops’ overwhelming firepower neutralised two of the gunmen and sent the rest of the gang scattering in panic, forcing them to flee without their captives. All three victims were found unharmed and have since been reunited with their families.
Recovered from the scene were three AK-47 rifles, thirty-nine rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three mobile phones, and two power banks. Authorities have taken custody of the items while tracking teams pursue the fleeing suspects.
The Nigerian Army has reiterated its resolve to sustain pressure on criminal networks, calling on residents to volunteer intelligence on suspicious movements and hideouts. “We will not relent until every part of Edo State is rid of these elements,” a military spokesman assured, urging citizens to go about their daily activities without fear.
