Some of the victims rescued during the operations.

Troops of the 2 Division and Sector 3 Operation Fansan Yama, on October 17, rescued 24 kidnap victims in Kogi and Kwara states in a sustained effort to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements operating in the neighbouring states.

There are 14 males, five females, one infant, and four Chinese nationals who were abducted from different locations across Kwara and Kogi states.

In a statement on Saturday, Lt.-Col. Polycarp Okoye, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, said some of the victims who had been with their captors for over four months were rescued in a coordinated operation by troops of 12 Brigade, Lokoja, and 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife, who has been coordinating the operations, ensured the victims were provided with necessary first aid and other relief items to assist them in recovering from the torture they had undergone at the hands of their abductors.

“The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for medical attention. Most of them, who were physically weak and could not walk unaided owing to extreme exhaustion, are responding to treatment and will be reunited with their families upon full recovery,” the statement said.

The GOC commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its continuous air support throughout the operations and also appreciated other security agencies for the synergy in tackling the myriad of security challenges in the two states.

He commended the troops for their efforts and directed the brigades to maintain the tempo of the operations towards restoring peace and security across Kwara, Kogi, and adjoining states within 2 Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR).