Troops free 21 abductees in coordinated military operations

 Troops of the Nigerian Army 2 Division/Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA have successfully rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Kwara and Kogi States.

Lt.-Col. Polcarp Okoye, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday.

Okoye said the troops have sustained efforts to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements operating in Kwara and neighbouring states.

He stated that coordinated operations by troops of 12 Brigade Lokoja and 22 Armoured Brigade Ilorin led to the rescue of the kidnapped persons on Friday.

According to Okoye, the victims reported that they were abducted from different locations across Kwara and Kogi States.

He said the bandits were forced to release their captives as a result of the troops’ intensified offensive, noting that some of the victims had been held by the kidnappers for over four months.

“The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), and Commander Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, who has been coordinating the operations, ensured they were provided with necessary first aid and other relief items to assist their recovery from the torture endured in the hands of their abductors.

“Major General Nnebeife further sympathised with the victims, reassuring them that the Division remains committed to sustaining the ongoing onslaught against all criminal elements,” he said.

Nnebeife assured the public that there would be no hiding place for bandits and other criminals within the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Okoye said the rescued victims had been swiftly evacuated to a military medical facility for attention.

He noted that most of them were physically weak and unable to walk unaided due to extreme exhaustion.

However, he added that the victims were responding to treatment and would be reunited with their families upon full recovery.

The GOC further appreciated the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its continuous air support throughout the operations, and also thanked other security agencies for their synergy in addressing the myriad of security challenges in the operational areas.

He commended the efforts of the troops and directed the Brigades to maintain the momentum of the operations towards restoring peace and security across Kwara, Kogi, and adjoining states within the 2 Division AOR.

(NAN)