Nigerian military and police operatives have rescued 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 National Youth Service Corps members, from the Egume-Ochaja forest in Kogi State.
The victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued during military operations in the area, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed on Monday.
Onoja said the NYSC members were among persons kidnapped last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
He said the rescue demonstrated the military’s commitment to locating and safely returning abducted citizens.
The development comes amid intensified military operations against terrorists and criminal elements, particularly following recent abductions in Niger State.
Onoja said troops were also sustaining operations in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, assuring residents that efforts would continue until security threats in the area were sufficiently degraded.
He urged families of abducted persons to remain calm and provide credible information to security agencies, warning against actions that could compromise rescue operations.
Giving an account of military operations in August, Onoja said troops neutralised 332 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 suspects and rescued 610 kidnapped victims.
He added that 201 insurgents surrendered, while troops recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition during the month.
According to him, the military also recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites as part of operations against oil theft and economic sabotage.
Onoja said the increase in surrendered terrorists—from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August—showed growing pressure on criminal groups.
Security operatives rescue 15 NYSC members, Six others in Kogi forest
