Troops arrest kidnapper, informant, rescue victim in Ondo

The troops of 32 Brigade Nigerian Army, deployed on operation Fast Strike Squad at Forward Operating Base, Auga, have apprehended a suspected kidnapper and rescued a victim in Ondo State.

The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations Officer of 32 Brigade, Major Njoka Irabor, made this known via a statement issued on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Irabor disclosed that the operation was carried out on Tuesday, June 3, to sustain activities while maintaining maximum security to decimate kidnappers and other criminal elements within its Area of Responsibility (AOR).

He stated: “The operation was carried out following credible information received from locals about a family making plans to pay ransom to kidnappers around Sabon Hanya, along Aiyere–Kabba Road in Ondo State.

“Troops swiftly laid ambush along the route which the kidnappers prescribed for those to deliver the ransom.

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“Consequently, troops captured one of the kidnappers and rescued a kidnapped victim, aged 10 years.

“The victim has been in the kidnappers’ custody for three days. However, the suspected kidnapper sustained injury during the operation.”

Irabor disclosed that the troops, on Wednesday, arrested one Abubakar (aka Maude), a suspected informant stationed around Auga in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

He said preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect was a member of a kidnapping syndicate, placed in the area to monitor the movement and activities of troops and inform members of his syndicate.

“The suspects are in our custody for further interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution,” the army spokesman said.

The Star