Army thwarts terrorists, rescues 11 victims

By Olakunle Oke 

The Nigerian Army has rescued 11 kidnapped Nigerians during a late-night operation along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway, dealing a major blow to terrorists and reaffirming its commitment to denying criminal elements freedom of movement.

The operation, carried out on 26 January 2026, was executed by troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Doka, who detected armed terrorists attempting to move their captives through the Gidan Duna–Amale bush track under the cover of darkness.

Leveraging long-range surveillance and real-time monitoring, the troops immediately launched a coordinated interception, leading to a high-speed pursuit using tactical vehicles and motorcycles.

Overwhelmed by the swift response, the terrorists abandoned their captives and fled into the surrounding scrubland, thwarting their planned escape.

The rescued victims comprise five adult males, three adult females and three children, who had been held in captivity since their abduction from Gada Mallam Maman Community on 26 October 2025, marking the end of a 92-day ordeal.

The successful operation underscores the Nigerian Army’s growing integration of modern surveillance technology with agile ground operations, as well as its resolve to protect lives, secure major transport corridors and ensure criminals find no refuge.

The Army reiterated its commitment to sustained offensive actions against terrorist elements while encouraging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to support ongoing security efforts nationwide.