Troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully rescued five individuals who were abducted and held captive in a forest in Kogi State. The operation, which took place on Thursday, was part of a clearance mission aimed at flushing out criminal elements hiding in the area.
Details of the Rescue Operation
The rescue was carried out by soldiers from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, acting on intelligence reports about the location of the kidnappers' hideout. The troops engaged the criminals in a gunfight, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee. The rescued persons included three men and two women, all of whom were taken to a medical facility for check-ups before being reunited with their families.
Recovered Items
During the operation, the army recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition, including one AK-47 rifle, two pump-action guns, and several rounds of live ammunition. The military also seized mobile phones and other personal belongings believed to have been taken from the victims.
Military Commitment to Security
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the operation in a statement on Friday. He reiterated the army's commitment to ensuring the safety of all citizens and urged the public to continue providing timely information to security agencies. “The Nigerian Army will not relent in its efforts to rid the country of criminal elements,” he said.
The rescue comes amid ongoing military operations in the North Central region, where banditry and kidnapping have been on the rise. The army has intensified patrols and clearance operations in forests and other remote areas to dismantle criminal networks.
