In a sustained effort to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements operating in Kwara and neighbouring states, the troops of 2 Division/Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA, successfully rescued 21 kidnapped victims on Friday, October 17.
The acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, who confirmed this on Saturday, October 18, said that coordinated operations by troops of 12 Brigade, Lokoja, and 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, led to the rescue of the abductees.
The victims included 14 males, five females, an infant, and four Chinese nationals.
The victims revealed that they were abducted from different locations across Kwara and Kogi States.
Following troops’ intensified offensive, the bandits were forced to release their captives, some of whom had been with them for over four months.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, who had been coordinating the operations, ensured that they were provided with necessary first aid and other relief items to assist their recovery from the torture they had gone through in the hands of their abductors.
Major General Nnebeife, who sympathised with the victims, gave a reassurance that the Division remains committed to sustaining the ongoing onslaught against all criminal elements.
He stated 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.
Most of them who were physically weak and could not walk unaided, owing to extreme exhaustion, were said to be responding to treatment, and would be reunited with their families on full recovery.
The GOC appreciated the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its continuous air support throughout the operations.
He also thanked other security agencies for the synergy in tackling the myriad of security challenges in the State.
In the same vein, the GOC commended the efforts of the troops and directed the Brigades to maintain the tempo of the operations towards restoring peace and security across Kwara, Kogi, and adjoining states within 2 Division’s area of responsibility.
