Commends Sustained Onslaught Against Terrorists
The Kogi State Government has welcomed the rescue of five kidnapped victims by troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army.
The government described the development as another major breakthrough in the ongoing offensive against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements operating within parts of the state.
According to a statement on Wednesday by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, the victims were rescued during sustained military operations in Kogi forests as security forces intensified coordinated air and ground offensives against criminal enclaves.
The statement reads, “The Government notes that the latest success is a direct outcome of the relentless pressure being mounted on terrorist camps and hideouts across the state, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives while fleeing military assaults.
“The rescue operation is a continuation of the recent successes recorded in Bunu District of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, where security forces carried out coordinated operations that led to the neutralization of terrorists, the rescue of kidnapped victims and the destruction of criminal camps. Since the successful operations around Iluke Bunu and adjoining communities, security agencies have sustained the momentum through coordinated air and ground missions, leading to the rescue of more victims and the neutralization of additional criminal elements hiding within the forests.
“Preliminary accounts from the rescued victims indicate that the terrorists abandoned them and fled for their lives due to the overwhelming military pressure mounted through coordinated ground and air operations against their hideouts. The victims revealed that the sustained offensive by security forces created panic within the criminal camps, forcing the kidnappers to disperse and abandon their captives in a desperate bid to escape the advancing troops. This further underscores the impact of the ongoing security operations and validates the strategic measures being implemented to flush out criminal elements from every part of Kogi State.”
According to the statement, the Government commended the troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff , Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu through the Commandant, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force, personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilante groups and hunters whose professionalism, courage and dedication have continued to produce remarkable results in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
“The Government also expresses profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering commitment to national security and for providing the support required by security agencies to confront emerging threats across the country. Special appreciation goes to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his strategic coordination and support, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services and the Commandant General of the NSCDC for their leadership and commitment to restoring peace and security in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole. We also express deep appreciation to all heads of security and intelligence agencies in Nigeria for supporting the efforts to rid Kogi State and the nation of violent crimes.
The Commissioner said that some of the rescued victims were abducted from states outside Kogi. “This development once again highlights the strategic role of Kogi State in Nigeria’s security architecture.”
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