ABUJA — Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 19 kidnapped victims during a high-stakes “coordinated search-and-rescue operation” in the rugged terrain of Gidan Dogo, within the Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The mission, which took place on Friday, was a joint hit involving the Guards Brigade, the Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilantes.
According to a statement released on Saturday by Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the Guards Brigade, the team stormed the forest hideout following a tip-off on the location of a notorious kidnap syndicate terrorising the capital’s outskirts.
Upon approaching the camp, the security forces were met with heavy gunfire. The troops responded with superior force, eventually overwhelming the bandits and forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the thick bush.
During a sweep of the abandoned camp, the troops found the 19 victims, along with a cache of weapons, ammunition, and communication gadgets used by the gang to coordinate their operations.
Military sources confirmed that the rescued persons have been evacuated and handed over to the police for medical checks and debriefing before they are reunited with their families.
This latest breakthrough comes as a massive relief to Bwari residents, who have been on edge following a string of daring abductions in the area. The Army has vowed to sustain “aggressive clearance operations” to ensure no criminal elements find a foothold in the Federal Capital Territory.
