Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a woman and her six-month-old baby following a kidnapping incident in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, while efforts continue to secure the freedom of other victims taken by the attackers.
The rescue operation was launched after suspected terrorists invaded a residence near Solid Rock School in the Ijalu area of Egbe late Wednesday night and abducted five members of a family.
According to the Army, soldiers of the 12 Brigade, working alongside members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, swiftly mobilised after receiving a distress call and pursued the kidnappers along their escape route.
Faced with mounting pressure from the security team, the abductors reportedly abandoned the woman and her infant near the Oro axis before fleeing into nearby bushes.
The rescued victims were safely reunited with their family, while security operatives expanded search efforts to locate the remaining abductees and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
In a statement, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, said the response was immediate.
“Upon receiving the distress report, troops immediately mobilized in conjunction with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), launching a pursuit operation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route,” he said.
The Army noted that the latest rescue followed a series of recent counter-kidnapping operations in the state. On June 1, troops rescued 23 passengers during an operation along the Ayegunle–Bunu road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, while another operation on May 30 foiled a kidnapping attempt in Lokoja and resulted in the neutralisation of a suspected terrorist.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing operations.
