Troops of 63 Brigade/Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe alongside the tracker team from the Delta State Government House, Asaba, have neutralized three kidnappers and rescued a lady who was being held captive in the Otulo Forest area of Aniocha North Local Government Area.
Captain Iliyassu Bawa Rijau, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 63 Brigade, Asaba, in a statement said the operation followed credible information received about criminal activities in Issele Uku.
Already, according to the statement, the kidnappers had demanded and received ransom from the victims’ families, before the troops neutralise them in their hideout.
It said the exchange of fire between the bandits lasted for 30 minutes leading to the killing of three bandits, and recovering of AK-47 rifle, a magazine, 52 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a cutlass, four mobile phones, a phone charger, a power bank and a pack of Benson cigarettes.
The statement added that the troops recovered the sum of N2.3 million abandoned by the criminals.
It said one soldier sustained a gunshot wound, while the rescued lady also had injuries from the kidnappers’ actions prior to her rescue. The two were immediately evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba for medical attention and are currently in stable condition.
The corpses of the kidnappers have been handed over to the Keystone Police Station in Ogwashuku for necessary action
In the same vein, a rescue operation was carried out by troops of 63 Brigade in conjunction with Operation Delta Sweep in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, just immediately after the troops responded to distress call about kidnapping activity at Ekrodo-Jesse community on 17th August, 2025.
The statement said following the mobilizing of troops to the scene, the kidnappers release their victim and fled into a nearby forest.
The troops pursued the suspects for about six kilometers, no contact was made but a cordon and search operation led to the discovery of an unsaved dane gun.
Also the victim, identified as Saviour Okiemute, a 25-year-old, was rescued and reunited with his family.
The Commander 63 Brigade Nigerian Army/ Sector 1
A combined team of security agencies made up of the Department of State Security Service, DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Police have screened 45 intending pilgrims to Israel and Jordan in Edo State.
DAILY POST reports that the security agencies screened the documents of the intending pilgrims as requested by the National Christian Pilgrims Commission.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has warned the intending pilgrims against abscondment and other misconducts capable of tarnishing the good image of the state.
Okpebholo urged the pilgrims to allow their conduct individually and collectively reflects the values, resilience, integrity and moral rectitude which are the hallmark of the state while in the holy land.
Represented by Apostle Sule Faraday Azekhumhe, the Special Adviser on Religious Matters to the Governor, he said the state government would not condone abscondment and other misconduct.
According to him, the full wrath of the law would be applied to any person or group of persons whose conduct would denigrate the integrity of the state.
He opined that pilgrimage to the Holy Land is not an avenue to amass wealth but to seek the face of God for spiritual rebirth as it marks a turning point in their quest to strengthen their faith and relationship with God.
Earlier, the Xhairman Edo State Christian pilgrims welfare Board, Rev Frank Omobude commended the governor for his support to ensure the hitch-free pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Omobude said the intending pilgrims have been properly educated on what they are expected to do as none of them would be involved in misconduct.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Commission, Bishop Steven Adegbite, represented by the Director and Zonal coordinator South-South Zone, Mr Nkaiso Edemenang, added that the screening of the intending pilgrims is to get vital information needed to process their travelling documents.
“At the end of the screening exercise,the documents will be transmitted to the Israeli Embassy for the issuance of the visa, orientation and retreat before air lifting of the pilgrims to the Holy Land,” he stated.
Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, OPDS, Brigadier General MA Shonibare hailed troops’ performance and assured the public that the operation is part of the ongoing efforts by the troops to maintain peace and security in Delta State.
DSS, Immigration, Police screen intending Christian Pilgrims in Edo
