‘How Army Commander led troops to rescue kidnapped victims in Kwara’

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Maj.-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, led troops in a successful rescue operation of two abducted persons in the Babasango Forest area of Kwara State, the Nigerian Army has announced.

Nnebeife, who also serves as Commander of Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMA, led the operation during an official visit to Patrol Base Babanla on Thursday, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lt.-Col. Polycarp Okoye.

Okoye explained that the visit followed a bandit attack near Idofin in Omu-Aran Local Government Area, where three traders were killed at Olegbede village.

He said the GOC led troops deep into Babasango Forest, where they rescued the two kidnapped victims, who were later handed over to the traditional ruler of Ayekale, Oba Pius Oluwole Oni Dofin of Idofin Odoeshe Ayekale.

“Oba Oluwole attributed the repeated attacks to the community’s proximity to Babasango Forest and appealed for sustained military presence,” Okoye added.

Maj.-Gen. Nnebeife, while commiserating with the royal father, assured that the Nigerian Army would maintain ongoing operations to clear the forest of bandits and other criminal elements.

Senate Seeks Military Base in Kwara South

Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara South Senatorial District, particularly around the forest belts of Ifelodun Local Government Area, following persistent cases of kidnappings and other criminal activities.

The call followed the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to address insecurity in the area, sponsored by Senator Ashiru Oyelola (APC–Kwara South).

In his motion, Oyelola expressed concern over the rising insecurity in the senatorial district, noting that bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings had reached alarming levels in recent weeks, forcing thousands of residents to flee their communities.

According to him, no fewer than 12 forest guards and members of local vigilance groups were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode. Victims included the Baale of Ogba-Ayo community and several other traditional and community leaders.

He listed affected areas to include Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, and Ganmu-Alheri in Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti, and Oke Ero Local Government Areas.

Oyelola disclosed that 142 persons were kidnapped and more than 70 killed in the last 12 months across Kwara South, with at least 25 communities deserted as a result of recurring attacks, leading to severe humanitarian displacement and disruption of social and economic life.

Other lawmakers, including Senators Mustapha Salihu (APC–Kwara), Sadiq Umar (APC–Kwara), Garba Maidoki (APC–Kebbi), and Deputy Senate President Barau Jubrin (APC–Kano), supported the motion and called for urgent security interventions.

In its resolutions, the Senate urged the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to deploy additional troops and special units to clear the forests and restore normalcy in affected communities.

It also mandated its Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas and report back within two weeks.

Additionally, the Senate resolved to invite the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector-General of Police to brief it in plenary on coordinated federal responses to insecurity in Kwara and other affected regions.

The session ended with a minute of silence in honour of forest guards, vigilance group members, traditional leaders, and innocent citizens who lost their lives to bandit attacks in Kwara South Senatorial District.

(NAN)