Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have successfully rescued nine victims kidnapped from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Kogi State.
This breakthrough occurred on May 6, 2026, during the ongoing Operation TIGER PAW II, an initiative designed to flush out terrorists in the North Central region.
The rescue mission follows a harrowing attack on April 26, when gunmen stormed the orphanage and abducted 23 people.
While 15 victims were freed in late April, these final nine captives remained in the Agbaja Forest area. Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the successful recovery of five boys, two girls, and two adult women.
Following their rescue, the victims were immediately evacuated to the 12 Brigade Medical Centre for first aid.
Medical officials have confirmed that all nine survivors are currently in stable condition after their ordeal in the forest.
Suspected Arms Courier Intercepted with 500 Rounds
In a separate development, troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted a suspected logistics courier for a terrorist group along the Obajana–Lokoja road. The suspect, identified as Yahaya Umar, allegedly attempted to smuggle a significant cache of ammunition through the state.
Umar was allegedly found with 500 rounds of 7.62mm NATO belted ammunition hidden inside a bag of maize to avoid detection.
Military sources said that the suspect received the rounds at Obajana Forest and intended to deliver them to a terrorist operative at Dikko Junction in Niger State.
Meanwhile, the suspect remains in military custody for further interrogation.
The Nigerian Army believes this arrest will help dismantle a criminal syndicate that operates across several North Central states.
Furthermore, the Kogi State Government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for kidnapping.
Governor Ahmed Ododo expressed his gratitude to the troops for their bravery, while the military urged the public to continue providing timely information to support security efforts.
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