Troops rescue 21 kidnapped victims in Kwara, Kogi

The Nigerian Army through its Operation FANSAN YAMA, have successfully rescued 21 kidnapped victims.

This contained in a statement signed by Polycarp Okoye Lieutenant Colonel, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army.

He said the rescue operations were coordinated by troops of 12 Brigade Lokoja and 22 Armoured Brigade Ilorin, as part of sustained effort to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements operating in Kwara and neighboring states.


The rescued kidnapped persons included 14 males, 5 females, 1 infant, and 4 Chinese nationals.

The victims revealed that they were abducted from different locations across Kwara and Kogi States.

Following the troops’ intensified offensive, the bandits were forced to release their captives, some of whom have been with them for over 4 months.

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

Major General Nnebeife further sympathised with the victims, reassuring that the Division remained committed to sustaining the ongoing onslaught against all criminal elements.

He noted that there will be no hiding place for bandits and other criminals within the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR).

The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for medical attention.