Troops raid suspected cultist camp, rescue kidnap victim in Edo

In a proactive move aimed at addressing the surge in insecurity in the months leading up to the end of 2023, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja initiated a series of exercises across the country.

These efforts have begun to bear fruit, as troops from the 16 Brigade, as part of Exercise STILL WATERS III, conducted a successful raid operation on a suspected cultists’ camp within the Oloibiri oil field, located in the Otuabagi community of the Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

In a statement, Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said during the operation, the diligent troops apprehended eight members of the cultist group who were found in their hideout.

The seizure of illicit items was also achieved, including one Baretta pistol, one locally made double-barrel pistol, five rounds of 9mm ammunition, three live cartridges, one Baofeng communication radio, one binocular, two mobile phones, and a substance suspected to be cannabis.

The apprehended suspects are currently in custody, undergoing thorough interrogation.

In a separate mission under Exercise STILL WATERS III, troops from the 4 Brigade swiftly responded to a distress call made by a concerned citizen regarding a kidnapping incident in the Obagie community, situated in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State on October 18, 2023.

Nwachukwu said the troops acted promptly and successfully rescued Miss Blessing Uwenze, who had been abducted by a criminal gang.

Subsequently, two members of the kidnapping gang were apprehended and taken into custody for further investigation.

The items recovered from the suspects included two Semi-Automatic Pump Action guns, four live cartridges, one mobile phone, and several fetish items.

Nwachukwu said Miss Blessing Uwenze has been safely reunited with her family, marking a significant success in the ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities in the region. He added that these recent achievements highlight the dedication and effectiveness of the troops involved in Exercise STILL WATERS III, led by Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the security and safety of the country’s citizens, and these operations demonstrate the progress being made in achieving this goal.