Troops of the 2 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA have rescued 21 kidnapped victims, including four Chinese nationals, in coordinated clearance operations across Kwara and Kogi States.
The operation, conducted on October 17, 2025, by personnel from the 12 Brigade Lokoja and 22 Armoured Brigade Ilorin, was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle bandit networks and criminal hideouts in the region.
According to a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s Facebook page on Saturday l, and signed by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, the victims—comprising 14 men, 5 women, 1 infant, and 4 Chinese expatriates—were abducted from various locations across the two states.
Following intensified offensive operations by the troops, the bandits reportedly released the captives, some of whom had been held for over four months.
The victims were subsequently given first aid and other relief materials before being taken to a military medical facility for further treatment.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, and Commander, Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, who personally coordinated the rescue, expressed sympathy for the victims and reaffirmed the army’s commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements.
“There will be no hiding place for bandits and other criminals within our Area of Responsibility,” Maj. Gen. Nnebeife said, commending the troops’ resilience and professionalism during the operation.
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He also lauded the Nigerian Air Force for providing vital air support, as well as other security agencies for their continued cooperation in combating insecurity across the region.
Most of the rescued victims, who were said to be physically weak and exhausted, are reportedly responding well to treatment and will be reunited with their families upon full recovery.
The Nigerian Army assured that it will maintain the operational tempo until peace and stability are fully restored in Kwara, Kogi, and other adjoining states under 2 Division’s jurisdiction.
