Military Rescues 15 NYSC Members, Six Others From Kogi Forest

The Nigerian military has rescued 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), during an operation in a forested area of Kogi State.

According to Ireporter Online, the victims were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch within the area of operation of the military’s 2 Division.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the development while providing an update on ongoing security operations.

He said the rescued victims comprised eight males and 13 females, with 15 of them identified as NYSC members.

Onoja said the successful operation was achieved through continued intelligence gathering and cooperation between the military, other security agencies and relevant state government institutions.

He stressed that security forces would maintain pressure on terrorists and criminal groups operating across identified areas to prevent further abductions and other attacks.

The Defence spokesperson also referenced the rescue of 308 abducted persons, predominantly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park on August 5, describing the operation as part of the military’s broader efforts to locate and safely return victims of terrorism and criminal activities.

According to him, troops would continue operations around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified routes used by criminal elements to restrict their movements and create safer conditions for displaced residents to return to their communities.

Onoja assured residents of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State and surrounding communities that military operations against terrorists and other criminals would continue.

He also appealed to families of abducted persons to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies, warning against actions that could compromise ongoing rescue efforts.

The military urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist troops in locating victims and apprehending those responsible for abductions and other criminal activities.