The Nigerian Army has rescued 19 kidnapped residents and neutralised a bandit during a coordinated operation in Gidan Dogo, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
The operation followed credible intelligence on the location of terrorists linked to the recent abduction of residents in the Byazhin area of the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, the army said troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, working alongside 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.”
A further search of the area led to the recovery of “one AK-47 rifle and one locally fabricated firearm.”
The Commander of the Guards Brigade, 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 added that troops will “continue to dominate the general area to forestall further criminal activities” and intensify operations with other security agencies to rid the territory and surrounding communities of terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes.
