LOKOJA, Nigeria: Troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army rescued nine kidnapped victims and intercepted a courier transporting 500 rounds of ammunition in Kogi State on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, a spokesman for the military unit, announced the operational results on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Okay News reports that troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army recovered the hostages from the Agbaja Forest within the Lokoja Local Government Area.
Abdullahi said, “In a major breakthrough under Operation Tiger Paw II, troops successfully rescued the remaining kidnapped victims from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage following sustained search and rescue efforts.”
The military evacuated the individuals to the 12th Brigade Medical Centre. Abdullahi said, “The rescued victims comprised five boys, two girls, and two adult females, believed to be the wives of the proprietor of the orphanage.”
Soldiers apprehended an individual carrying weapons along the Obajana to Lokoja road. Abdullahi said, “The suspect, identified as Yahaya Umar, was found in possession of 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition concealed inside a bag of maize in an attempt to evade detection.”
Abdullahi said, “Further interrogation indicated that the ammunition was handed over to him at Obajana Forest and was being transported to Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, for delivery to a yet-to-be-identified terrorist.”
