Troops of the Nigerian Army rescued 23 kidnapped victims and neutralised 19 terrorists in separate operations across the country in the last 24 hours, between Monday and Tuesday, according to operational reports.

The report said the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 18 persons kidnapped from their residence at Sabon Gari, Kaura Namoda council area of Zamfara.

It said the troops responded to a distress report, engaged the terrorists and forced them to flee, abandoning all 18 victims who were rescued unharmed.

The report further revealed that troops had in another operation rescued a kidnapped victim at the outskirts of Kukawa Village in Kanam council area of Plateau.

According to the report, the victim told troops he was abducted from Duguri in Bauchi on Thursday and was subsequently handed over to the village head.

“Also in Plateau, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP) neutralised a terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle and two rounds of ammunition. The operation followed intelligence from an arrested suspected bandit, who led troops to a location at Nwur Village, Shendam Local Government Area.

“In Kebbi, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralised 18 terrorists during an attack on Mobile Police Special Intervention Squad personnel at Makuku, Sakaba Local Government Area. The troops also destroyed five motorcycles and recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles in a separate clearance operation in Plateau,” he said.

The report said the troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued five people who escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno.

He said the escapees were sighted by troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion during a patrol along the Amuda Bridge–Ngoshe-Gava road in Gwoza council area.

It added that the five victims reportedly escaped the enclave following disagreements among terrorists and the abandonment of the camp by some fighters.

According to the military, troops of 82 Division and 103 Battalion recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from a kidnappers’ hideout in Umuchingu Ujenike Forest in Enugu.

(NAN)