Troops of the Twelve Brigade of the Nigerian Army have successfully rescued six individuals who were kidnapped by armed bandits in the Ejiba and Saminaka forest corridors located in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria.
According to the official statement issued on Tuesday in Lokoja by the spokesperson of the Brigade, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the rescue operation was carried out as part of a wider and ongoing military strategy aimed at dismantling criminal networks responsible for kidnapping and violent attacks across the region. Okay News reports.
Lieutenant Abdullahi explained that the operation featured an intensive combination of air and ground assaults, executed with support from a Nigeria Police helicopter, resulting in the interception and retrieval of the abducted victims.
He further stated that sustained military pressure forced the bandits to abandon the victims as troops advanced deeper into their hiding locations within the forests.
“Five of the rescued individuals have been reunited with their families in Egbe and Ejiba communities, while the sixth is receiving medical attention,” he said.
The Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities and maintaining security in Kogi State. It emphasised that ongoing offensives will continue in order to dominate forests, uncover criminal hideouts, and eliminate the freedom of action previously enjoyed by the perpetrators.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the kidnapping victims were initially taken on Sunday when armed bandits invaded a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba Community during a worship service, abducting the pastor and several worshippers.
