In a statement by Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Itua, the operation carried out was coordinated by the Governor’s Principal Security Officer in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local vigilantes, and other security agencies.

Operatives reportedly trekked nearly five kilometres deep into the forest between Afuze and Ora, where the camps were uncovered and destroyed.

A member of the squad, Eribo Ewanta, said after the six-hour exercise that evidence confirmed the camps were still in active use.

“We discovered five camps with clear indications that their occupants had only just fled. We found fire still burning and a pot of food left on the fire. This confirms the presence of suspected kidnappers in the area,” Ewanta said.

He explained that the operation escalated into an exchange of gunfire at a riverbank, as suspected kidnappers, apparently alerted to the presence of security personnel, attempted to evade capture. He also noted evidence of cattle grazing in the forest, raising suspicion that the hideouts may have been linked to armed herdsmen.

“We engaged the suspects in a serious gun duel, but they escaped deeper into the forest. Nevertheless, we are on their trail. Their camps have been dismantled and destroyed. Edo State will no longer provide a haven for criminal elements,” he declared.

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Ewanta assured residents that the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to flush out kidnappers and violent groups from the state.

He also commended Governor Okpebholo for his commitment to fortifying security, noting that the administration’s coordinated strategy is restoring public confidence and sending a clear message to criminal gangs.

Source: Punch