After a lengthy battle with bandits, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, Lokoja, successfully freed two abducted victims and retrieved a N3.8 million ransom meant for their release.
Brigade Spokesperson Lt. Hassan Abdullahi said in a statement on Monday that the rescue operation occurred on Sunday in Achigili Forest along the Itobe–Adumu–Ejule road.
When troops stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Oguma obtained reliable information about a planned ransom drop on November 2, the operation got underway. A patrol was dispatched to the woodland to apprehend the culprits as soon as the information was received.
The bandits opened fire on the troops as they were traveling. The offenders were confronted with superior force by the troops who fired back. As a result, the kidnappers were forced to run into the bush with gunshot wounds, leaving the two victims (a guy and a female) and the money behind.
The victims were debriefed and placed in safe custody right away after being rescued. They were successfully returned the N3.8 million that had been recovered.
Lt. Abdullahi urged the people to keep contributing timely and reliable information to support security operations against criminal groups in the state and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s unshakable commitment to protecting lives and property.
