Nigerian troops rescue 23 abductees, eliminate 19 terrorists in fresh operations

The successes were recorded between Aug. 10 and 11, according to operational reports made available to the newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the report, the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 18 persons kidnapped from their residence at Sabon Gari, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara.

It said the troops responded to a distress report, engaged the terrorists and forced them to flee, abandoning all 18 victims who were rescued unharmed.

The report further revealed that troops had in another operation rescued a kidnapped victim at the outskirts of Kukawa Village in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau.

According to the report, the victim told troops he was abducted from Duguri Village in Bauchi State on Aug. 6 and was subsequently handed over to the village head.

“Also in Plateau, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) neutralised a terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle and two rounds of ammunition.

“The operation followed intelligence from an arrested suspected bandit, who led troops to a location at Nwur Village, Shendam Local Government Area.

“In Kebbi, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralised 18 terrorists during an attack on Mobile Police Special Intervention Squad personnel at Makuku, Sakaba Local Government Area.

“The troops also destroyed five motorcycles and recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles in a separate clearance operation in Plateau,” he said.

The report said the troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued five persons who escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno.

He said the escapees were sighted by troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion during a patrol along the Amuda Bridge–Ngoshe-Gava road in Gwoza Local Government Area.

It added that the five victims reportedly escaped the enclave following disagreements among terrorists and the abandonment of the camp by some fighters.

According to the military, troops of 82 Division and 103 Battalion recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from a kidnappers’ hideout in Umuchingu Ujenike Forest in Enugu State.

“The recovery followed a follow-up operation after the rescue of two kidnapped victims and arrest of suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate operating across the South-East and adjoining states.

“The troops also arrested 19 suspects during an offensive operation in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, recovering motorcycles, pumping machines, mobile phones and cash.

The latest operations underscore the continued deployment of intelligence-led patrols, targeted raids and coordinated actions by security forces to disrupt terrorist and criminal networks nationwide.

NAN