Army Rescues Last Nine Orphanage Victims in Kogi, Nab Ammo Courier

LOKOJA — In a dual-front victory against insecurity, troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army have successfully rescued the remaining nine victims abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage and intercepted a significant cache of ammunition hidden in a bag of maize.

​The coordinated operations, which took place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, under the banner of Operation TIGER PAW II, mark the conclusion of a harrowing ordeal that began in late April.

​The Final Rescue

​Military sources and Kogi State officials confirmed that the rescue took place within the dense Agbaja Forest in the Lokoja Local Government Area. The recovered victims include five boys, two girls, and two adult females, who are reportedly the wives of the orphanage’s proprietor.

​These nine individuals were the last of 23 people kidnapped during a violent raid on the orphanage on April 26. While 15 victims were recovered shortly after the initial attack, this final group had remained in captivity for nearly two weeks. Following their rescue, they were immediately moved to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for stabilization and psychiatric care.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Ammo Syndicate Foiled

​Simultaneously, troops acting on “high-level intelligence” intercepted a suspected logistics courier, identified as Yahaya Umar, along the busy Obajana–Lokoja highway.

​In a creative but failed attempt to bypass security, Umar had concealed 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition inside a bag of maize. Preliminary interrogations suggest Umar is a central figure in a North Central arms syndicate. He reportedly received the munitions in Obajana Forest and was en route to Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, for delivery to a terrorist cell.