Korede Abdullah 
BENIN CITY, Nigeria – Joint security forces arrest 13 suspected criminals and recover arms, drugs and illicit items during coordinated forest operations across Edo North Senatorial District.
The operation, codenamed Operation IGBO DANU 1, involves troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Edo State Security Corps.
According to the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu in a statement on Saturday, the operation targets forest hideouts used by kidnappers and armed criminals in Etsako West Local Government Area.
“Our objective is to flush out terrorists, rescue victims and dismantle criminal networks operating from forest locations,” Anyanwu says.
Eight suspects are arrested in Osara, Auchi and Okpella communities. They are identified as Jamilu Mohammad, Kasim Abu, Braimoh Affeez, Sulaiman Hamisu, Lawan Umaru, Bawa Auwal, Musa Umaru and Amodu Attai.
Security operatives recover one English pump-action gun, four live cartridges and a locally made pistol. Other items seized include cutlasses, mobile phones, a POS machine, a digital camera, drugs suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol, codeine syrup and other illicit substances, alongside ₦87,550 in cash.
In a related raid at Aviele Forest, troops arrest five additional suspects believed to be involved in kidnapping activities. Two motorcycles, Android phones and a power bank are recovered during the operation.
Captain Anyanwu confirms that all suspects and exhibits are handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
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Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Mirian Gom 