Twenty-one kidnapped victims have been rescued in a coordinated operation carried out by the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade and 22 Armoured Brigade across Kwara and Kogi States.
The victims include 14 males, five females, an infant, and four Chinese nationals. They were rescued on October 17 from various locations following intensified military offensives.
Spokesman of 2 Division, Lt.-Col. Polycarp Okoye, revealed in a statement on Saturday that some of the victims had been held captive for over four months. He added that after their rescue, the victims received immediate first aid and relief support to help them recover from the trauma.
“The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for medical attention.
“Most of them who were physically weak and could not walk unaided, owing to extreme exhaustion, are responding to treatment, and will be reunited with their families upon full recovery.
“The GOC appreciated the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its continuous air support throughout the operations. He also thanked other security agencies for the synergy in tackling the myriad of security challenges in the State.
“He commended the efforts of the troops and directed the Brigades to maintain the tempo of the operations towards restoring peace and security across Kwara, Kogi, and adjoining states within 2 Division area of responsibility,” Okoye said.
