Military rescues 15 NYSC members, six others from Kogi forest

The Nigerian military has rescued 21 people, including 15 National Youth Service Corps members, from a forest in Kogi State, days after they were abducted while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, announced the rescue on Monday, saying the victims were recovered from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch within the 2 Division area of operation.

The rescued group comprised eight males and 13 females.

“Of the 21 victims rescued, 15 are National Youth Service Corps members,” Onoja said, adding that the corps members were among those kidnapped last week while travelling to Bayelsa State.

The rescue comes amid intensified military operations against terrorists and criminal gangs across the country, particularly following recent attacks and abductions in Niger State.

Onoja said the military had sustained collaboration with other security agencies and state authorities through intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.

He pointed to the August 5 rescue of 308 abducted persons, mostly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park as part of recent successes recorded by the security forces.

According to him, troops are maintaining pressure on criminal elements operating around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified routes in the Borgu axis to prevent further attacks and facilitate the return of displaced residents.

He assured residents of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State and neighbouring communities that military operations would continue until the threats in the area were significantly reduced.

“The Armed Forces, therefore, reassures the people of Borgu and their communities that military operations against terrorists and criminals will be sustained in the local government area and its environs to ensure the safety of the community,” he said.

The military spokesman also appealed to relatives of abducted persons to remain patient and provide security agencies with credible information, warning against actions that could compromise ongoing rescue efforts.

Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, had directed troops to intensify efforts to rescue abducted Nigerians, protect civilians and create conditions for displaced persons to return home.

He disclosed that military operations across the country in August resulted in the killing of 332 terrorists and criminals, the arrest of 373 suspects and the rescue of 610 kidnapped victims.

A further 201 insurgents reportedly surrendered to the military during the month, while troops recovered 88 firearms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition.

In the fight against oil theft, the military recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites, according to Onoja.

He attributed the reported gains to increased combat operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger cooperation among security agencies.

Onoja also said the number of terrorists who surrendered rose sharply from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August, which he described as evidence of mounting pressure on criminal groups.

He said the Defence Chief commended troops for their sacrifices in rescuing abducted persons, disrupting criminal networks, combating oil theft and protecting critical national assets.