Troops of the Nigerian Army have shot dead a suspected kidnapper and rescued 19 abducted victims during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operation, conducted around Gidan Dogo, followed intelligence reports on the location of suspected terrorists responsible for the recent abduction of residents in the Byazhin area of Bwari.
In a statement on Saturday, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Captain Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, said the troops carried out the operation in collaboration with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes.
The operation was launched following credible intelligence on the whereabouts of terrorists responsible for the recent abduction of residents from the Byazhin area of Bwari,” Itunuoluwa said.
He explained that troops encountered the kidnappers during the operation, leading to a gun battle in which one of the suspects was killed while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the troops also recovered weapons from the scene while successfully rescuing all the kidnapped victims.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle and one locally fabricated firearm. Additionally, all 19 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued and evacuated to safety,” he added.
Itunuoluwa said the troops had since returned to their base in Bwari while the rescued victims were receiving attention.
He added that the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Adebisi Onasanya, commended the troops and other security agencies involved in the operation.
“The brigade will continue to intensify operations in collaboration with other security agencies to rid the territory and its environs of terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities,” he said.
Onasanya also reiterated the brigade’s commitment to safeguarding residents of the FCT and protecting Abuja as the nation’s seat of power.
