Troops Rescue 21 Kidnap Victims in Kwara, Sustain Onslaught Against Bandits‎‎

—Army Reassures Citizens as Federal, State Governments Intensify Security Operations

By Abiola Adigun| Albarka 89.9 FM| Ilorin| October 18 2025

In a major breakthrough in the ongoing war against kidnapping and banditry in Kwara and neighboring states, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division/Sector 3 Operation FANSAN YAMA have rescued 21 kidnapped victims from criminal enclaves in the region.
The rescue, which took place on October 17, 2025, followed coordinated operations by soldiers from the 12 Brigade, Lokoja, and the 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin. Among the freed captives were 14 males, five females, one infant, and four Chinese nationals who had been abducted from various locations across Kwara and Kogi States.
Army authorities disclosed that some of the victims had spent more than four months in captivity before troops’ sustained offensives forced the bandits to release them.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMA, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, who coordinated the operation, said the victims were immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for first aid and comprehensive medical attention. Many of them, he noted, were weak and exhausted from prolonged confinement but are now responding to treatment.
Major General Nnebeife sympathized with the victims and their families, assuring that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to rid the Division’s area of responsibility of all criminal elements. “There will be no hiding place for bandits and kidnappers within our operational zones,” he vowed, while commending the gallantry of the troops.

He also appreciated the Nigerian Air Force for providing crucial air support throughout the operation and lauded the synergy among security agencies working together to tackle insecurity in the region.
The rescue comes amid growing concerns over the resurgence of kidnappings and armed banditry in parts of Kwara State, particularly in border communities adjoining Kogi and Niger States. In recent months, several incidents of abduction along highways and rural settlements have prompted stronger joint security operations coordinated between the state and federal governments.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has repeatedly emphasized the administration’s collaboration with security agencies, including the Army, Police, and local vigilante groups, to strengthen intelligence gathering and response mechanisms.
Operation FANSAN YAMA, launched to flush out criminal elements operating across Kwara, Kogi, and Oyo States, has intensified its raids in recent weeks, signaling a renewed determination by the Nigerian military to restore peace and protect rural communities from marauding gangs.
The latest rescue, according to security analysts, underscores the effectiveness of the ongoing joint security efforts and offers renewed hope to citizens anxious about the safety of lives and property across the state.
Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the operation in a statement, reiterating that the Army will continue to “maintain the tempo” until normalcy is fully restored in all affected areas.