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21 abducted Nigerians, including 15 NYSC members, were rescued from kidnappers’ den in the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch of Ofu LGA, Kogi State.
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Joint security operation involved the military, police, DSS and local vigilantes, with the rescued victims comprising eight males and 13 females.
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President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to maintain pressure on the fleeing kidnappers and track down those responsible for the abduction and their collaborators.
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Military reports major August gains, including 610 rescued kidnap victims, 332 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 373 arrests and 201 terrorist surrenders.
August 31, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to sustain the pressure on kidnappers and other criminal elements following the successful rescue of 21 Nigerians, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), abducted last week in Kogi State.
The President, in a statement on Monday, expressed relief over the safe recovery of the victims, assuring their families and Nigerians that his administration remained committed to securing lives and property across the country.
THEWILL reports that the 21 victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State during a coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation involving the military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes.
The 15 NYSC members were among passengers abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
Tinubu said the rescued victims were receiving medical attention and would subsequently be reunited with their families.
“I am delighted to receive the news that the fifteen members of the National Youth Service Corps and six other innocent and law-abiding Nigerians abducted last week in Kogi State by some criminal elements have regained their freedom,” the President said.
He commended the security personnel involved in the operation, saying their efforts demonstrated the government’s determination to deny criminal groups the freedom to operate across the country.
“I wholeheartedly commend the combined SAR team for their courage and appreciate families and loved ones of the abductees for their understanding during the ordeals of their loved ones,” he said.
The President, however, warned that the successful rescue would not bring the operation to an end, directing security forces to continue pursuing the kidnappers who fled their hideout.
“While the abductees have been safely rescued, our gallant security forces are still on the trail of the routed kidnappers, in line with my directive to sustain the pressure on all criminal elements,” Tinubu said.
He added that those behind the abduction would face the full weight of the law, while security agencies would also pursue individuals who aided or facilitated the crime.
“Those responsible will face the full weight of the law, and our security agencies will pursue everyone who aided this crime,” he said.
The President further assured Nigerians that his administration was working towards creating an environment where citizens could travel across the country without fear of abduction or attacks.
“My administration remains committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can travel across our country without fear,” he said.
The rescue operation came as the Armed Forces intensified operations against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups in several parts of the country.
Confirming the Kogi rescue, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said the 21 victims were successfully recovered from the forest corridor by troops operating in collaboration with other security agencies.
“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,” Onoja said.
He said the operation formed part of broader efforts by the military and other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks and rescue Nigerians held captive by terrorists and kidnappers.
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Military Sustains Operations in Niger
The latest Kogi rescue also comes against the backdrop of intensified military operations in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, where residents have recently been abducted by criminal and terrorist elements.
Onoja said military formations were working closely with other security agencies and state government institutions through intelligence sharing and joint identification of areas requiring security intervention. He cited the rescue of 308 abducted persons, predominantly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park on August 5 as evidence of the military’s growing operational capacity.
“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.
According to him, troops are maintaining pressure on terrorists operating within and around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified corridors in an effort to prevent further incursions.
He said the military’s objective was also to create conditions that would enable displaced residents to safely return to their communities.
“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,” Onoja said.
The General appealed to families of abducted persons to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies, warning against actions that could compromise ongoing rescue 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 accompany the loss or affliction of family members and friends. 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,” he said.
332 Criminals Neutralised, 610 Kidnap Victims Rescued
Providing an overview of military operations in August, Onoja disclosed that troops across the country neutralised more than 332 terrorists and other criminals and arrested 373 suspects. He said 610 kidnapped victims were rescued during the month, while 201 insurgents surrendered to troops.
The military also recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition during the operations.
In the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage, Onoja said security forces recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites. He attributed the reported gains to intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger cooperation among security agencies.
The military also recorded a sharp rise in the number of terrorists surrendering to troops, with Onoja putting the figure at 11 in June, 57 in July and 201 in August. He said the trend indicated increasing pressure on terrorist groups and growing effectiveness of military operations against them.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, 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.
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