Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued kidnapped victims from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage and intercepted a suspected terrorist ammunition courier in separate operations carried out in Kogi State.
The operations, conducted on May 6, 2026, were part of the ongoing Operation TIGER PAW II aimed at combating terrorism and criminal activities in the North Central region.
According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the troops successfully rescued the remaining abducted victims from the orphanage following sustained search and rescue efforts in the Agbaja Forest area of Lokoja Local Government Area.
The rescued victims included five boys, two girls, and two adult women believed to be wives of the orphanage proprietor. The victims were immediately evacuated to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for medical treatment and first aid, and were confirmed to be in stable condition.
In a related operation, troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted a suspected arms courier identified as Yahaya Umar along the Obajana–Lokoja road.
The suspect was allegedly found transporting 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition concealed inside a bag of maize in an attempt to avoid detection.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly serves as a logistics courier for terrorist groups operating across the North Central states. Military sources said the ammunition was handed over to him at Obajana Forest and was being transported to Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, for delivery to another suspected terrorist operative.
The suspect is currently in military custody and undergoing further interrogation as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the criminal network and arrest other members of the syndicate.
The Nigerian Army said the successful operations demonstrate its continued commitment to protecting lives and property while sustaining pressure on terrorists and their collaborators.
The military also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing security operations.
