The Nigerian Army has rescued 19 kidnapped residents and neutralised one bandit during a coordinated operation in Gidan Dogo, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory.
This follows credible intelligence on the whereabouts of terrorists responsible for the recent abduction of residents from the Byazhin area.
In a statement on Saturday signed by Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, the Army said troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, “successfully rescued 19 kidnapped victims during a coordinated search and rescue operation.”
The statement added that during the operation, troops “made contact with the bandits, leading to a firefight in which one of the criminals was neutralised, while others fled the scene with suspected gunshot wounds.”
Further search of the area led to the recovery of “one AK-47 rifle and one locally fabricated firearm.”
Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya, commended the troops and collaborating security agencies “for their bravery and professionalism during the operation.”
He also reiterated that the Brigade remains “resolute and fully committed to safeguarding residents of the Federal Capital Territory and protecting Abuja as the nation’s seat of power.”
The Army concluded that troops would “continue to dominate the general area to forestall further criminal activities” and intensify operations with other security agencies “to rid the territory and its environs of terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.”
