Odita Sunday 
Troops Rescue Five Kidnap Victims As Terrorists Abandon Captives Under Military Pressure in Kogi
By Odita Sunday
Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army under 2 Division Nigerian Army have rescued five kidnapped victims abandoned by fleeing terrorists during ongoing counter terrorism operations in Kogi State, in what military authorities described as another breakthrough in sustained offensives against criminal elements operating in the state.
The rescue operation was carried out on 17 June 2026 as troops intensified exploitation of recent gains recorded from coordinated ground and air operations targeting terrorist enclaves hidden within forested areas of the state.
According to the military, the operation forms part of sustained offensive actions designed to dismantle criminal networks linked to notorious terrorist kingpins and restrict their operational activities within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.
The breakthrough followed operational directives and a recent air interdiction mission conducted against a known terrorist hideout in the forest. Troops deployed from Forward Operating Base Oshokoshoko were subsequently positioned on a blocking mission along the Oshokoshoko–Adankolo route within Adankolo Forest.
During the operation, troops intercepted five kidnapped victims who had reportedly been abandoned by terrorists while fleeing sustained military pressure on their camps.
Preliminary findings indicated that the victims regained freedom after the terrorists dispersed in the aftermath of the ongoing kinetic operations directed at their hideouts.
Military authorities said the victims were immediately secured and evacuated from the forest to a safe location for further assessment and care.
The rescued victims were later moved to a military medical facility where they received medical attention and stabilisation. They were also debriefed to provide intelligence that could support ongoing operations aimed at locating and neutralising other terrorists believed to still be operating within the general area.
Efforts are also underway to reunite the victims with their respective families after completion of necessary administrative and medical procedures.
Reacting to the development, the Commander 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, commended the troops for their vigilance, resilience and professionalism, describing the successful rescue as evidence of the Brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property within its Area of Responsibility.
He reassured residents of Kogi State and adjoining communities that troops would sustain aggressive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements until lasting peace and security are restored.
Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital to the success of ongoing military operations.
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