LOKOJA – Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have successfully rescued five kidnapped victims following a high-intensity, coordinated air and ground offensive against terrorist enclaves in the forests of Kogi State.
The breakthrough is the latest in a series of sustained military onslaughts targeting bandits and kidnappers operating within the state’s borders. Preliminary reports indicate that the overwhelming firepower of the advancing troops caused severe panic within the criminal camps, forcing the terrorists to abandon their captives and flee for their lives.
Sustained Military Offensive Yields Results
The successful operation builds on recent security gains recorded in the Bunu District of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. Security forces had previously neutralized several terrorists, destroyed operational bases, and rescued victims around Iluke Bunu and adjoining communities.
By maintaining a relentless tempo through combined air surveillance and ground assaults, the military and collaborating security agencies have successfully denied the criminals any breathing space.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the Kogi State Government highly commended the troops of the 12 Brigade under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, and the Brigade Commandant, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi. The government also praised the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilante groups for their bravery and seamless inter-agency collaboration.
Kogi’s Strategic Security Role
Significantly, security officials revealed that some of the rescued victims had been abducted from states outside Kogi. This dynamic underscores Kogi’s critical position as a natural transit gateway linking the northern and southern regions of Nigeria.
The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo emphasized that it is aggressively leveraging this strategic geography to ensure the state does not become a operational base or transit route for cross-border criminal networks.
To complement the ongoing military operations, Governor Ododo recently rolled out several stringent security measures in the hinterlands. These include:
- Restricting commercial motorcycle operations in the Bunu hinterlands.
- The immediate closure of identified transit routes used by criminal elements.
- Strict regulation of fuel sales in vulnerable communities to choke off the logistics supply lines of the bandits.
Rehabilitation and Next Steps
Governor Ododo has congratulated the rescued victims and their families, assuring citizens that his administration will not relent until every criminal hideout in the state is completely dismantled.
The Governor has directed the State Ministry of Health to take full responsibility for the victims. Receiving the rescued individuals, the representative of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Austin Ojotule, assured that the state would provide comprehensive medical evaluations, treatment, and psychosocial support to help them recover from the trauma of captivity before being safely reunited with their families.
The state government has urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely, credible intelligence to security agencies, reiterating that safeguarding the state remains a collective responsibility.
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