The Nigerian Army has recorded fresh successes in its ongoing operations against criminal elements, arresting 20 suspects and rescuing nine kidnapped victims in coordinated raids across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions.
Details of the operations were disclosed in a statement published on the Army’s official Facebook page on Sunday, which indicated that troops also recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and other items linked to criminal activities.
The statement explained that the operations, conducted within a 24-hour period, were part of sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks across the country.
It read, “Within the last 24 hours, troops have carried out coordinated offensives that led to the arrest of 20 key suspects, recovery of an AK-47 rifle with specialised ammunition, and the rescue of nine kidnapped victims.”
The Army noted that the simultaneous operations across the affected regions dealt a significant blow to insurgent groups by disrupting their supply chains and limiting their operational capacity.
In the North-East, troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade carried out targeted raids in Borno State, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspects, including individuals believed to have links with a notorious kidnapper identified as Baba Ali.
The statement added that troops recovered materials such as bags of fertiliser suspected to be used in making improvised explosive devices, while insurgents fled their hideouts in Marte Local Government Area, abandoning bicycles and other logistics.
In the North-West, operations in Kaduna State led to the recovery of rustled livestock and the rescue of three kidnapped victims following an encounter with armed groups at Lahin Dan Auta. The victims were said to have been reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, in the North-Central region, troops conducted operations in Benue State, where a raid in Gwer West Local Government Area led to the rescue of six victims and the arrest of a suspected trafficker.
The statement further revealed that a separate patrol in Guma Local Government Area resulted in the arrest of three suspected terrorists, alongside the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 27 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property nationwide, urging citizens to remain vigilant and continue providing useful information to security agencies.
