The troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army have averted a kidnap attempt by insurgents and rescued 16 abductees in Tantatu community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday, March 18, 2024.

Nwachukwu said the victims were rescued after the troops responded to actionable intelligence at about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.

He said the troops swiftly tracked the insurgents who had earlier attacked the community in numbers and abducted some of the villagers as hostages.

Bandits kidnap 87 Kaduna residents

The army spokesman noted that the troops tenaciously pursued the insurgents, engaged them in a gun battle, and consequently rescued the 16 kidnapped victims.

“The troops are still exploiting the bushes in continuation of the search and rescue operations to extricate other victims and balk the nefarious activities of the insurgents,” Nwachukwu added.

He quoted the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja as commending the troops for the successful rescue of the kidnapped victims.

Lagbaja also charged them to remain vigilant as they conduct ongoing counter insurgency operations to liberate all troubled areas in the country.

The Star