Troops of the Nigerian Army have thwarted a kidnap attempt on three commercial buses in Kogi State and rescued the victims.
This is just as troops killed four terrorists in Taraba and Zamfara States and recovered weapons.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Friday, said the criminals had attacked the passengers onboard three commercial buses along Akpata–Obajana Road in Lokoja local government area of Kogi State but troops arrived timely to avert the situation, rescuing the passengers and engaging the criminals in a hot pursuit.
He said some of the rescued passengers who suffered injuries during the foiled kidnap attempt have been promptly evacuated to a hospital for medical attention.
In the same vein, he said troops neutralised two terrorists in Taraba State following a firefight.
He said troops following actionable intelligence on the movement of terrorists in Mayinawa, Garin Daniel and Garbatau axis of Bali local government area of Taraba State swiftly mobilised and made contact with the terrorists, neutralising two of them during an exchange of gunfire.
He said the terrorists had been reported to frequently terrorise the residents of the communities before meeting their waterloo.
According to the statement, troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines and 56 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
Furthermore, in another separate operation, troops deployed for Counter Insurgency Operations in the North-West, raided kidnappers’ den in Kuyambana general area, along Road Magawa-Migetso in Zamfara State.
He said troops made contact with the insurgents and killed two of them in a gun duel.
He added that the troops after a thorough search of the camps recovered one pump action gun, one locally fabricated gun, two live cartridges, one locally made pistol, one mobile phone and a tying chain used to fasten kidnap victims.
He reiterated that the Nigerian Army remained resolute in its commitment to sanitising troubled areas and maintaining peace and stability in the country.
He, however, solicited the support and cooperation of the public in the ongoing security operations across the country.
