The Nigerian military has rescued 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps, from a forest in Kogi State.
The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest corridor during ongoing military operations, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, announced on Monday.
Onoja said the rescued corps members were among those abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
He said, “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.”
The rescue comes amid intensified military operations against terrorists and criminal groups across the country, particularly following recent abductions in Niger State.
According to Onoja, the military has continued to work with other security agencies and state authorities through intelligence sharing and coordinated interventions aimed at tackling insecurity.
He pointed to the August 5 rescue of 308 abducted persons, mostly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park as evidence of the security forces’ growing capacity to locate and recover victims.
Onoja said troops were still applying pressure on terrorists operating around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified routes to prevent further attacks and create conditions for displaced residents to return home.
He assured residents of Borgu Local Government Area and surrounding communities that military operations would continue until the security threats in the area were significantly reduced.
“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 relatives of abducted persons to remain patient and provide credible information to security agencies, warning against actions that could interfere with rescue efforts.
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, had directed troops to maintain professionalism and determination in the fight against terrorism and other forms of criminality.
Giving an overview of military operations in August, he disclosed that troops neutralised more than 332 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 suspects and rescued 610 kidnapped victims.
He added that 201 terrorists surrendered during the period, while security forces recovered 88 firearms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition.
The military also recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites as part of efforts to combat oil theft and economic sabotage.
Onoja attributed the gains recorded in August to intensified military operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration among security agencies.
He further disclosed that the number of terrorists who surrendered rose from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August, describing the increase as an indication of mounting pressure on terrorist groups.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff commended troops for their sacrifices in rescuing abducted Nigerians, tackling armed groups, disrupting criminal networks, combating illegal oil activities and protecting critical national infrastructure.
