Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have rescued five kidnapped victims in Kogi State after suspected terrorists abandoned them while fleeing from sustained military offensives targeting criminal hideouts in the state’s forested areas.
The rescue operation, which took place on Wednesday, was carried out as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations under the 2 Division Nigerian Army. The operation followed intensified ground and air assaults against terrorist camps believed to be operating within remote forest locations in Kogi State.
The successful rescue was disclosed in a statement issued by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Hassan Abdullahi, who said the development underscored the military’s determination to dismantle criminal networks and restore security in affected communities.
According to the statement, the rescue mission was part of a broader strategy aimed at denying terrorists and other criminal elements the freedom to operate within the brigade’s area of responsibility.
Military authorities explained that the operation was launched following intelligence reports and operational directives issued after a recent air interdiction mission against a known terrorist enclave hidden within the forest.
The aerial strikes, according to the Army, significantly weakened the activities of the criminal group and created conditions for ground troops to intensify pursuit operations across the area.
The statement revealed that troops deployed from the Forward Operating Base Oshokoshoko were conducting a blocking mission along the Oshokoshoko–Adankolo route within the Adankolo Forest when they encountered the victims.
“Acting on operational directives and following the recent air interdiction mission conducted against a known terrorist hideout within the forest, troops deployed from Forward Operating Base Oshokoshoko on a blocking mission along Oshokoshoko–Adankolo route within Adankolo Forest,” the statement said.
“During the operation, vigilant troops intercepted five kidnapped victims who had been abandoned by the terrorists while fleeing from the intense military pressure mounted on their camps.”
Military officials stated that preliminary investigations indicated that the victims regained their freedom after the terrorists were forced to scatter and abandon their captives in response to the sustained military offensive.
“Preliminary findings revealed that the victims had regained their freedom after the terrorists were forced to disperse in the aftermath of the ongoing kinetic operations targeting their hideouts,” the Army added.
The rescued victims were reportedly found in a distressed condition after enduring an uncertain period in captivity. They were immediately attended to by military personnel and provided with necessary assistance before arrangements were made to reunite them with their families.
Although details regarding the identities of the victims and the duration of their captivity were not immediately disclosed, military authorities described the rescue as another significant achievement in the ongoing campaign against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the region.
The operation highlights the increasing pressure being mounted by security forces against criminal groups operating within forests and remote communities in Kogi State and neighbouring areas.
In recent months, the Nigerian military has intensified coordinated operations involving air and ground forces to target terrorist enclaves, destroy logistics bases and disrupt the activities of criminal networks responsible for kidnappings and violent attacks.
Security analysts note that the combination of aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering and ground offensives has proven effective in limiting the mobility of armed groups and forcing them to abandon strategic locations.
The latest rescue operation also reflects the military’s growing focus on victim recovery as part of broader efforts to restore public confidence and enhance security across affected communities.
Residents in parts of Kogi State have faced recurring security challenges in recent years, including kidnappings along major roads, attacks on rural settlements and criminal activities within forest corridors.
Authorities believe that sustained military operations are gradually reducing the operational capabilities of these groups and making it increasingly difficult for them to maintain their strongholds.
The Army reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and assured residents that troops would continue pursuing terrorists and other criminal elements until lasting peace is restored.
Military commanders have also urged members of the public to support security efforts by providing credible information that can assist troops in identifying criminal hideouts and preventing attacks.
Community leaders and residents welcomed the rescue of the five victims, describing it as a positive development and evidence that security operations are yielding results.
Many expressed hope that the continued pressure on criminal groups would lead to the rescue of more abducted persons and further weaken the activities of terrorists operating in the region.
The Nigerian Army emphasized that operations against terrorists and kidnappers remain ongoing, with troops maintaining aggressive patrols and surveillance activities across strategic locations.
Officials stressed that no effort would be spared in ensuring that criminal elements are denied safe havens and that communities can live without fear of violence and abduction.
As military operations continue across Kogi State and other parts of the country, the rescue of the five victims serves as another indication of the impact of sustained security offensives and the determination of the Armed Forces to confront threats to national security.
For the rescued victims and their families, the operation marks the end of a traumatic ordeal and offers renewed hope amid the broader struggle to combat insecurity and restore stability across affected regions.
