The Nigerian Army has rescued 19 kidnapped residents and neutralised one bandit during a coordinated operation in Gidan Dogo, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operation followed credible intelligence on the location of terrorists responsible for recent abductions in the Byazhin area.
In a Saturday statement signed by Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, the Army said troops from the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade, working alongside the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, “successfully rescued 19 kidnapped victims during a coordinated search and rescue operation.”
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.”
A subsequent search of the area recovered “one AK-47 rifle and one locally fabricated firearm.”
Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya, commended the troops and partner security agencies “for their bravery and professionalism during the operation.” He reiterated that the Brigade remains “resolute and fully committed to safeguarding residents of the FCT and protecting Abuja as the nation’s seat of power.”
The Army added that troops will “continue to dominate the general area to forestall further criminal activities” and intensify operations with other security agencies “to rid the territory and its environs of terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.”
