DHQ: How Troops Rescue 15 NYSC Members, Six Others From Kogi Forest
The Nigerian military has rescued 21 kidnapped persons, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps, from a forest between Egume and Ochaja in Kogi State.
The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued during a military operation in the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch under the 2 Division Area of Operations.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday while giving an update on military operations across the country.
According to him, the 15 NYSC members were among those abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
“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.
The rescue came amid intensified military operations against terrorists and criminal elements across the country, particularly in response to recent abductions in Niger State.
Onoja said the military had continued to work with other security agencies and state government institutions through intelligence sharing and joint efforts to identify areas requiring urgent security intervention.
He cited 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 track and rescue victims.
“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.
The Defence spokesperson said troops were sustaining pressure on terrorists operating around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified corridors to prevent further attacks and create conditions for displaced residents to return home.
He assured residents of Borgu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities that military operations would continue until the security threats in the area were sufficiently degraded.
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“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.
He appealed to families of abducted persons to remain calm and provide credible information to security agencies, warning against actions capable of compromising 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 accompanies 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 added.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, remained committed to rescuing kidnapped citizens, protecting civilians and facilitating the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
He added that Oluyede had directed troops to sustain operations with determination, professionalism and courage in the fight against terrorism and criminality.
Military kills 332, rescues 610 in August
Giving an overview of military operations in August, Onoja said troops neutralised more than 332 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 373 suspects and rescued 610 kidnapped victims.
He disclosed that 201 terrorists surrendered to the military during the month, while troops recovered 88 arms 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 operations against oil theft and economic sabotage.
According to Onoja, the August figures reflected improved operational effectiveness, which he attributed to intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations, enhanced intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration among security agencies.
He noted that the number of terrorists who surrendered increased significantly, rising from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August.
The trend, he said, reflected the growing pressure being exerted on terrorist groups by the military.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff commended troops for their sacrifices in rescuing abducted citizens, neutralising terrorists and armed criminals, dismantling criminal networks, disrupting illegal oil bunkering activities and protecting critical national assets.
