Troops rescue 6 kidnapped victims in Kaduna

Troops of Sector 1 Operation Fansan Yamma, OPFY, have recorded another operational success with the rescue of six kidnapped victims in the Kajuru/Kujama general area of Kaduna State.

Lt.-Col. Shuaib Umar, the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Officer, 1 Division Nigerian Army, disclosed this on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Umar said the rescue operation was conducted on Monday as part of a wider, coordinated series of operations across multiple axes within Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas, including the fringes of Kauru border communities.

According to him, the operations were deliberately designed to further suffocate the freedom of action of violent extremists within the Joint Operations Area, JOA, and, by implication, the wider Sector 1 OPFY JOA.

“Following a distress alert on the activities of violent extremists around the Kasso adjoining hills, troops of Sub-Sector 5, who were already conducting clearance operations in the Kujeni general area, swiftly mobilised to the location.

“On arrival, troops made contact with the criminals and engaged them with effective suppressive fire, forcing them to flee in disarray into the surrounding forest.

“The gallant troops immediately exploited the area, leading to the successful rescue of six kidnapped victims, “he said.

Umar said the rescued victims were safely handed over to the representatives of Kajuru Local Government Area and the Kajuru Emirate Council for onward reunification with their families.

He said the General Officer Commanding/Commander Sector 1 Operation Fansan  Yamma, Maj.- Gen. Abubakar Wase, had commended the troops.

He said he charged them to remain on maximum alert and continue to sustain the aggressive tempo to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Operations Area.