Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, have foiled an attempted mass abduction of pupils at Iluke Community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, preventing what could have been a major tragedy.
The Army disclosed that the terrorists, disguised in military uniforms, had invaded the community on Wednesday and assembled pupils of Iluke Primary School with the intention of abducting them before troops intervened.
According to the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, the operation was carried out on June 10 following credible intelligence from vigilant community members who alerted troops on patrol to suspicious activities in the area.
Acting swiftly on the information, troops mobilised and advanced to the community, where they discovered that the terrorists had already gathered the schoolchildren for the planned abduction.
“Without delay, the troops engaged the terrorists, compelling them to abandon their mission and flee the area. During the encounter, one terrorist was neutralised, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds,” Abdullahi said.
The Army, however, disclosed that before the arrival of troops, the attackers had killed a teacher and a resident of the community.
The military described the killings as further evidence of the “criminal and inhumane nature” of terrorists who continue to target innocent civilians.
The prompt response by the troops successfully prevented the abduction of the pupils and saved many lives, the statement added.
Troops are currently pursuing the fleeing terrorists, while security agencies in neighbouring Kwara and Niger states have been alerted to block possible escape routes due to the interconnected nature of the affected communities.
The Army said additional security measures had been put in place to deny terrorists freedom of movement, reassure residents and prevent further attacks.
It also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to enhance ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal elements from the state.
