‘Troops Rescue 1,000 Kidnap Victims In North-West’, Says Outgoing GOC Ajose

The outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ibikunle Ajose, said troops under his command rescued more than 1,000 kidnap victims during his 18-month tenure.

Ajose disclosed this on Friday during a farewell ceremony in Sokoto, where he highlighted key operational successes recorded under Sector 2 of Operation Fasan Yamma across the North-West zone.

According to him, sustained military pressure on bandit enclaves led to the disruption of criminal networks, recovery of weapons, and the return of displaced residents to abandoned communities and farmlands during the last farming season.

“In 2025 alone, we recovered over 200 weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and rescued more than 1,000 kidnap victims,” Ajose said, describing the operations as pivotal to restoring civilian confidence in the military.

Beyond operational gains, the outgoing GOC also highlighted major welfare reforms implemented during his tenure. He said the Division, with the support of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, renovated and constructed new living quarters and restored water at Giginya Cantonment in Sokoto for the first time in nearly two decades.

Ajose added that medical facilities within the barracks were upgraded with 24-hour power supply, free maternal care for soldiers’ families, and ambulance services, while wounded troops received free surgical treatment.

He noted that the involvement of civilian medical professionals from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital significantly improved healthcare delivery within the cantonment.

“Schools, employment opportunities, worship centres, and security infrastructure were also enhanced,” he said.

The incoming GOC, Major General Bemgha Koughna, commended Ajose’s performance, describing 8 Division as a “shining example” in recent operational assessments.

Ajose, who has been redeployed to Abuja for his next assignment, urged officers and men of the 8 Division to give maximum support to his successor.