Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 23 kidnapped victims and neutralised 19 terrorists in separate operations across the country within 24 hours.
The successes were recorded between Aug. 10 and 11, according to operational reports made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The report said troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 18 people abducted from their homes in Sabon Gari, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The troops responded to a distress call, engaged the terrorists and forced them to flee, rescuing all 18 victims unharmed.
In Plateau State, troops also rescued a kidnap victim on the outskirts of Kukawa Village in Kanam Local Government Area.
The victim told the troops that kidnappers abducted him from Duguri Village in Bauchi State on Aug. 6 before he was later handed over to the village head.
The military said troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) also neutralised a terrorist in Nwur Village, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau.
The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and two rounds of ammunition during the operation, which followed intelligence provided by an arrested suspected bandit.
In Kebbi State, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralised 18 terrorists during an attack on personnel of the Mobile Police Special Intervention Squad at Makuku, Sakaba Local Government Area.
The troops also destroyed five motorcycles and recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles during a separate clearance operation in Plateau State.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued five people who escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno State.
The victims were sighted by troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion during a patrol along the Amuda Bridge–Ngoshe-Gava road in Gwoza Local Government Area.
According to the report, the five victims escaped the enclave following disagreements among the terrorists and the subsequent abandonment of the camp by some fighters.
In Enugu State, troops of the 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.
The recovery followed a follow-up operation after troops rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate operating across the South-East and neighbouring states.
The military also reported that troops arrested 19 suspects during an offensive operation in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State. The operation also led to the recovery of motorcycles, pumping machines, mobile phones and cash.
The latest operations highlight the military’s continued use of intelligence-led patrols, targeted raids and coordinated operations to disrupt terrorist and criminal networks across the country.
Source: NAN
