Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Saturday rescued five kidnap victims in two coordinated operations carried out around the Isanlu–Egbe axis of Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The rescue followed two separate kidnapping incidents involving armed bandits who abducted four civilians in the first attack and another victim at a nearby location shortly after.
According to the Army, troops mobilised immediately upon receiving distress calls and stormed both scenes, engaging the kidnappers in a brief but fierce exchange.
The statement noted that the soldiers’ “professional engagement with superior firepower” forced the bandits to flee in disarray, abandoning all five victims, who were later rescued unharmed.
The 12 Brigade reiterated its commitment under the leadership of Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi to protecting lives and property across Kogi State.
It added that troops would remain on heightened alert and continue to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny criminal groups any freedom of action.
In other news, earlier, a primary-section teacher of the missionary-owned St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, Mrs Martha Matthias, narrated how she and her family survived a bandit attack that struck the school around 1:00 a.m. on November 21.
According to the teacher, the attackers barged into the school while pupils, students and staff were fast asleep.
Narrating the moment she nearly lost her life, the teacher said the bandits made their intentions clear from the start.
Mrs Matthias said she had no option but to obey, adding that she acted out the commands of the intimidating armed men to secure her child’s safety.
While she escaped with her baby, her husband, Godfrey Matthias, was among the 24 people abducted during the Papiri raid.
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