Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have rescued 14 kidnapped victims in Kogi State following sustained offensive operations against terrorists operating within forest enclaves around the Lokoja axis.
A credible military source disclosed on Tuesday that the victims were freed after troops successfully assaulted Batijjo’s camp located in the Adonkolo/Kakanda Forest. During the operation, soldiers engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, overran the camp, and forced the criminals to flee.
The source revealed that troops recovered weapons, ammunition, military and police camouflage, as well as documents, including a foreign passport. These recoveries, he said, have further degraded the operational capability of the terrorist group.
According to the source, one of the rescued victims was identified as a serving soldier who was abducted while travelling from Abeokuta to Zaria. All rescued persons were immediately stabilised by medical teams after the operation.
“In a follow-up ambush at Tajimi, troops engaged a fleeing terrorist who abandoned his motorcycle before escaping. The motorcycle was recovered for intelligence exploitation,” the source said.
He further disclosed that troops also responded swiftly to a separate kidnapping incident along the Okene–Onyukoko Road, where seven additional victims were rescued after escaping from their captors. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing to locate and free remaining victims.
The source reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to sustain aggressive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting security across Kogi State and adjoining areas, particularly around Lokoja and its environs.
