Troops Rescue 28 Kidnap Victims in Kwara, Neutralise Two Kidnappers
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Troops Rescue 28 Kidnap Victims in Kwara, Neutralise Two Kidnappers
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
Troops of the Nigerian military have rescued 28 kidnapped persons in separate operations in Kwara State, while two suspected kidnappers were neutralised during a military operation in Patigi Local Government Area of the state.
The operations, carried out under Operation Savannah Shield, followed renewed military offensives against kidnapping and other criminal activities across Kwara and neighbouring Niger State in October.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during the monthly briefing on military operations across the country, covering the period between September 30 and October 30, 2026.
Onoja said troops rescued 18 kidnapped residents on October 10 following a response to the abduction of residents from farmlands around the Eruku-Egbe-Koro Forest area of Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State.
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He added that another successful operation was recorded on October 26 when troops on a fighting patrol to Latan Daji in Patigi Local Government Area engaged suspected kidnappers, neutralised two of them and rescued five kidnapped persons.
The Defence spokesman said the operations formed part of sustained efforts by troops to dismantle kidnapping networks and restore security in communities across the North-Central region.
In another development involving Kwara, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke rescued five kidnapped persons on October 16 after ambushing suspected kidnappers transporting their victims from Kwara State into Kogi State.
Onoja said the operation took place between Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The military also reported another rescue operation on October 19, when troops pursued attackers who had abducted passengers from a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, rescuing 11 passengers.
According to the Defence spokesman, Operation Savannah Shield, which covers Kwara and Niger states, recorded the neutralisation of three terrorists, rescue of 29 kidnapped persons, arrest of three suspects and the surrender of one terrorist during the period under review.
He said troops also arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin and his accomplice at the kingpin’s residence in Mokwa, Niger State, on October 18, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the network.
Giving a breakdown of military operations nationwide, Onoja said troops neutralised more than 217 terrorists and criminals, arrested 333 suspects and rescued 349 kidnapped persons within the one-month period.
He added that 70 insurgents surrendered to troops, while security forces recovered 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition.
The military spokesman further disclosed that troops recorded 98 attacks across the various theatres of operation during the period, with Operation Savannah Shield recording one attack.
He urged residents, traditional rulers and community leaders to provide timely intelligence to security agencies, warning that terrorists’ informants, logistics suppliers, recruiters and gunrunners would be brought to justice.
Onoja encouraged members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free emergency line 193, assuring that information supplied would be treated confidentially.
