The Nigerian military has confirmed the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), from a forest in Kogi State.
The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest in the 2 Division area of operation, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said on Monday.
According to Onoja, the 15 NYSC members were among those abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is also happy to announce that a total of 21 victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, 15 of them being National Youth Service Corps members, have just been rescued within the Egume and Ochaja forest stretch in 2 Division area of operation,” he said.
The rescue came as the military intensified operations against terrorists and other criminal elements across the country, particularly following recent abductions in Niger State.
Onoja said military formations had continued to work with other security agencies and state government institutions through intelligence sharing and the identification of areas requiring security intervention.
He cited the rescue of 308 abducted persons, mainly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park on August 5 as evidence of the security forces’ growing capacity to locate and rescue victims.
“The recent rescue of 308 abducted persons, predominantly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park on the 5th of August, alongside subsequent operations to deny terrorists freedom of movement within the Borgu axis, demonstrates the commitment and capability of the security forces to locate, rescue, and safely return affected citizens,” he said.
Onoja said troops were maintaining pressure on terrorists operating in and around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified routes to prevent further incursions and create conditions for displaced residents to return home.
He assured residents of Borgu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities that military operations against terrorists and criminals would continue until the security threats were significantly degraded.
“The Armed Forces, therefore, reassures the people of Borgu and their communities that military operations against terrorists and criminals will be sustained in the local government area and its environs to ensure the safety of the community,” he said.
The Defence spokesperson also appealed to families of abducted persons to remain calm and avoid actions that could compromise rescue efforts, stressing that credible information remained crucial to ongoing operations.
“To the families of the victims and all persons affected by the heinous activities of terrorists and criminals, the Armed Forces acknowledges the anxiety, pain, and uncertainty that accompanies the loss or affliction of family members and friends,” he said.
“We want to urge everybody to remain calm and have confidence in the ongoing efforts of the military and other security agencies, while avoiding actions that could compromise rescue or recovery operations.”
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, remained committed to rescuing abducted persons, protecting civilians and facilitating the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
He added that the CDS had directed troops to continue operating with determination, professionalism and courage in the fight against terrorism and criminality.
August Operations
Providing an update on military operations in August, Onoja said troops neutralised more than 332 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 suspects and rescued 610 kidnapped victims.
He added that 201 insurgents surrendered to the military, while troops recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition during the month.
On the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage, Onoja said troops recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites.
He attributed the operational gains to intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration among security agencies.
Onoja further disclosed that the number of terrorists who surrendered rose from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August, which he said reflected increasing pressure on terrorist groups.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff commended troops for their sacrifices in rescuing abducted citizens, neutralising terrorists and armed criminals, dismantling criminal networks, disrupting illegal oil bunkering and protecting critical national assets.
