Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 21 kidnapped victims, including four Chinese nationals, in a coordinated operation across Kwara and Kogi states.
The operation, carried out on Thursday, October 17, 2025, was part of Operation FANSAN YAMA, a military offensive aimed at flushing out bandits and kidnappers in the North Central region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Polycarp Okoye, said the rescue mission was jointly executed by personnel from the 2 Division, 12 Brigade Lokoja, and 22 Armoured Brigade Ilorin.
Okoye explained that the successful operation was part of the army’s renewed efforts to combat insecurity in the region.
He said the troops, under Operation FANSAN YAMA, “successfully rescued 21 kidnapped victims in a sustained effort to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements operating in Kwara and neighbouring states.”
He further disclosed that “the coordinated operations by troops of 12 Brigade, Lokoja, and 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin, led to the rescue of the kidnapped persons, who include 14 males, five females, an infant, and four Chinese nationals.”
According to him, the victims revealed that they were abducted from different locations across Kwara and Kogi States.
He added that the bandits were forced to release their captives following intensified military offensives, noting that some of the victims had been in captivity for more than four months.
Okoye said the rescued persons were immediately taken to a military medical facility for first aid and treatment, adding that most of them were physically weak and unable to walk unaided due to extreme exhaustion.
He noted that all the victims were responding to treatment and would be reunited with their families upon full recovery.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division and Commander, Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMA, Major General C. R. Nnebeife, who personally supervised the operation, also provided relief materials and medical support to the victims.
While sympathising with them, Nnebeife reaffirmed the army’s commitment to sustaining the fight against criminal elements in the region. “We remain committed to ensuring there is no hiding place for bandits and other criminal elements within our area of responsibility,” he stated.
He commended the Nigerian Air Force for providing consistent aerial support during the operation and praised other security agencies for their synergy in tackling insecurity in the North Central region.
“The troops have demonstrated professionalism, courage, and resilience,” Nnebeife added, urging them to maintain the tempo of operations to restore peace and security across Kwara, Kogi, and neighbouring states.
The army also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could help in tracking down criminal elements still operating in remote communities.