Military rescues 15 NYSC members, six others in Kogi

The Nigerian military has rescued 21 kidnapped persons, including 15 National Youth Service Corps members, from the Egume-Ochaja forest in Kogi State.

The victims, eight males and 13 females, were rescued during military operations in the forest, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said on Monday.

Onoja said the 15 corps members were among those abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.

He said the rescue was part of intensified military operations against terrorists and other criminal groups across the country.

“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 military spokesman said troops were also sustaining operations in Niger State, particularly in Borgu Local Government Area, following recent abductions there.

He said the military was working with other security agencies and relevant state institutions through intelligence sharing and targeted operations.

Onoja also cited the rescue of 308 abducted persons, mostly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park on August 5 as another recent breakthrough in the military’s operations against criminal groups.

He said troops were maintaining pressure on terrorists operating around the park and other identified routes to prevent further attacks and create conditions for displaced communities to return home.

Onoja urged families of abducted persons to remain calm and provide credible information to security agencies, warning against actions that could jeopardise rescue operations.

The military said its nationwide operations in August also led to the arrest of 373 suspects, the recovery of 88 firearms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition, while 201 terrorists surrendered to the authorities.

It added that troops recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites during operations against oil theft.

Onoja attributed the gains to intensified operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration among security agencies.

He said the number of terrorists who surrendered increased from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August, which he said reflected growing pressure on criminal groups.

The military assured affected communities that operations would continue to protect civilians, rescue abducted persons and restore security in areas affected by terrorism and criminality.