Troops of the Nigerian military have rescued 18 kidnapped victims in Kwara State following an operation in the Eruku-Egbe-Koro Forest in Ekiti Local Government Area.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed this in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, covering military operations conducted between October 9 and 15.
According to Onoja, the victims were rescued on October 10 after troops of Operation Savannah Shield, working with local security groups, responded to a distress call over the abduction of residents from their farmlands.
He said the troops pursued the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee into the forest.
During the operation, the troops recovered two AK-47 magazines containing four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The rescue formed part of wider military operations across the country, which also resulted in the rescue of abductees in Borno and other areas, the arrest of suspected criminal collaborators, and the recovery of weapons and ammunition.
Onoja said troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued two abducted persons, identified as Bello Ibrahim and Ibrahim Adamu, around the Kuranabasa axis of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on October 15.
The military also reported the rescue of another kidnapped person in the Northwest after troops engaged suspected terrorists around Galadimawa, forcing them to abandon the victim.
In Adamawa State, troops recovered a cache of weapons following an encounter with suspected terrorists in Hong Local Government Area, while four suspected terrorists’ bodies were later discovered during patrols.
In Sokoto State, troops reportedly killed suspected terrorists in Tangaza Local Government Area and recovered firearms and ammunition.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended military personnel for their efforts and urged them to sustain operations against terrorists and other criminal groups.
He also called for stronger intelligence-sharing among security agencies and urged traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to provide credible information to support security operations.
The DHQ reiterated the importance of cooperation among security agencies, communities and the media in addressing insecurity across the country.
