By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Lokoja
Five victims abducted by bandits have regained their freedom following a coordinated military offensive by the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force in the forests of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Commanding Officer of the 126 Battalion, Lt. Col. Francis Nwoffiah, disclosed the development on Wednesday at the 12 Brigade Headquarters in Lokoja, describing the rescue as part of sustained counter-terrorism operations targeting criminal hideouts across the state.
According to him, troops from the Forward Operating Base, Oshokoshoko, launched a blocking operation along the Oshokoshoko–Adankolo route after helicopter gunships deployed through the Office of the National Security Adviser carried out air strikes on bandit camps in the Agbede Forest, including the notorious Danguntu camp.
Nwoffiah said the intense air and ground assault forced the criminals to flee, abandoning some of their captives in the process.
“Unable to move with all their captives, they abandoned some of them, allowing the victims to escape,” he said, adding that the military had significantly weakened criminal networks operating in the area.
The rescued victims include John Luna, Farouq Abdullahi and Eunice Fedrick. Recounting their ordeal at the 12 Brigade Medical Centre in Lokoja, they said they were among 28 passengers abducted on June 1 from a night bus travelling from Abuja to Lagos.
The victims disclosed that they spent 17 days in captivity before sustained military pressure and helicopter strikes compelled their captors to abandon them and flee.
“The security forces came close to where we were being held. The bandits dropped us and ran because of the pressure from the troops,” Luna said, while Fedrick added, “To the glory of God, we survived.”
Nwoffiah further revealed that a notorious bandit leader, Battijo, and his deputy, Issa, were recently neutralised during military operations in the region. He added that another gang leader, identified as Maidawa, had earlier been eliminated in the Isanlu-Esa axis.
He assured that troops under the command of Brig. Gen. Kasim Umar Sidi would sustain aggressive operations until all criminal camps are dismantled and the affected communities fully secured.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government welcomed the rescue, describing it as another major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism and kidnapping. In a statement, Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo said the success stemmed from coordinated security operations that have destroyed several criminal camps and led to the rescue of more victims.
Fanwo commended the Army, Air Force, Police, DSS, NSCDC, vigilantes and local hunters for their professionalism, while also appreciating President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, service chiefs and heads of security agencies for their support. He added that the state government would bear the medical expenses of the rescued victims until they fully recover and reunite with their families.
