By Nkechi Eze
Troops of 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, have successfully neutralised three armed kidnappers and rescued two abducted victims in two separate daring operations in Delta State.
Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 63 Brigade Asaba, Captain Iliyasu Rijau, who confirmed the development in an official statement, said troops, working in synergy with a tracker team from the Delta State Government House, Asaba, stormed a kidnappers’ den in the Otulu Forest area of Aniocha North Local Government Area following credible intelligence.
According to the statement, the kidnappers had earlier demanded and received ransom from families of their victims, prompting the military to intensify tracking efforts. The troops eventually located the hideout and engaged the criminals in a fierce firefight that lasted about 30 minutes.
During the encounter, three kidnappers were eliminated and a female victim was rescued. Items recovered at the scene included one AK–47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 52 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a cutlass, four mobile phones, a phone charger, a power bank, a pack of Benson cigarettes and the sum of ₦2,336,000 abandoned by the criminals.
However, one soldier sustained a gunshot wound to the leg while the rescued victim also suffered injuries inflicted by the kidnappers prior to the military operation. Both the soldier and the rescued woman have been evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba and are currently receiving treatment in stable condition. The corpses of the neutralised suspects have since been handed over to Keystone Police Station, Ogwashi-Uku, for further action.
In a separate but related development, troops of 63 Brigade, in conjunction with personnel of Operation Delta Sweep, conducted another rescue operation in Ethiope West Local Government Area. Acting on a distress call on 17 August 2025, troops swiftly mobilised to Ekrodo-Jesse community, compelling the kidnappers to abandon their 25-year-old victim, Saviour Okiemute, and escape into a nearby forest. A subsequent cordon-and-search mission led to the recovery of an unserviceable dane gun.
Okiemute was later reunited with his family.
The Commander 63 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General M.A. Shonibare, commended the troops for their gallantry and reassured residents that the ongoing operations reflect the Army’s renewed efforts to ensure lasting peace and security throughout Delta State.
